Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra feels the four-match T20I series against South Africa will be a do or die series for Abhishek Sharma. The left-hander scored a 46-ball hundred against Zimbabwe but could not come up with consistent performances against Bangladesh in the home series.
The southpaw could only manage 35 runs in three matches against the Tigers at an average of 11.67. The 24-year-old from Punjab has scored 159 runs in eight T20Is at an average of 22.71 and he needs to deliver more consistent performances at the top of the order.
With players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill waiting in the wings, it is crucial for Sharma to grab his chances with both hands.
“I think India have two or three big questions. The pressure will be on Abhishek Sharma and a little bit on Sanju Samson, although Sanju scored a hundred in the last match. So I am not going to say that there is any pressure on Sanju,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“However, since Yashasvi (Jaiswal) will come and Shubman Gill will come at some stage, you feel you should score a lot of runs whenever you get a chance to open. So it’s important for him but it’s do or die for Abhishek Sharma because after this when the England T20I series will be played at home, you will definitely be dropped if you don’t score runs here,” Chopra added.
Chopra noted that Abhishek hasn’t delivered consistently after scoring a hundred against Zimbabwe.
“I love Abhishek to bits. I find him a very good player. He also scored a hundred in Zimbabwe but after that hundred until now there has been no such performance which you would see and say that Abhishek Sharma will have to be kept,” he said.
The renowned commentator said the changes are frequently happening in Indian cricket and it is crucial for the youngster to take his chances.
“It’s a volatile situation in Indian cricket. The changes are happening very quickly. The season doesn’t change that many times in a day in England, although it changes there many times, but the changes in the Indian team are happening like that. So it’s important for the openers,” Chopra observed.
The first T20I between India and South Africa will be played at Kingsmead, Durban on Friday.
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