Former Indian wicket-keeper bat Parthiv Patel showered praise on Abhishek Sharma for playing with guile in the T20I series against Australia. Sharma top-scored in the five-match series against Australia with 163 runs in five games at an average of 40.75 and a strike rate of 161.39. Thus, he was awarded Player of the Series for his consistent show.
The left-hander remained unbeaten 23 off 13 balls in the fifth T20I against the hosts at the Gabba, Brisbane. The southpaw had the rub of green on his side as he was dropped twice on 5 and 11 by Glenn Maxwell and Ben Dwarshius, respectively.
Patel noted that Abhishek showed maturity in his shot-making on the Australian tour.
“Abhishek is known for six-hitting. The one thing that was seen on this tour is that it’s not like he is trying to swing blindly off every ball. I saw the maturity in how to play the field. In India, the grounds are generally small. So you have the confidence that even if there is a fielder at deep square leg, you will clear him and you will get a six,” the former India keeper said on Star Sports.
“However, here, if the boundary is 75 or 80 meters, it doesn’t get cleared that easily. Then you have to hit shots in the pockets. You have to hit shots where the fielders aren’t there. You saw that in Abhishek Sharma’s innings in Melbourne and today as well. He was making room and hitting in the areas where the fielders weren’t there,” he added.
The former Gujarat captain said there will be frustration regarding Abhishek’s aggressive approach as he might get dismissed on an uncalled shot.
“He will play like this only. There will be frustration at times as to whether there was any need to hit another six when two fours and a six had already come. However, I feel he will play in that fashion only,” he said.
The former gloveman noted that Abhishek has been a consistent performer despite embracing an aggressive approach.
“The day he plays 12-13 overs, India will mostly win that match because he bats with a strike rate like that. The one good thing is that he has scored more than 1,000 runs, and with this style only. So you see consistency along with high-risk, high-reward cricket in Abhishek’s batting,” Parthiv observed.
Abhishek will be next seen in action in a five-match T20I series against South Africa.
