Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri praised Abhishek Sharma after India claimed a six-wicket win against New Zealand in the third T20I at the Hnry Stadium, Wellington, on Tuesday. Abhishek completed his fifty off just 15 balls as he was able to hit the ground running in the Powerplay overs, in which India posted 118 runs.
The left-hander eventually went on to score a magnum opus knock of 113 runs off 38 balls, including nine fours and 11 sixes. This is Abhishek’s fourth T20I century as he once again proved his mettle.
The southpaw added 133 runs off just 43 balls with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who scored 45 runs off just 19 balls, for the opening alliance.
“A fabulous innings. You mentioned about being tucked up. The fact that he clears the front leg of his and he has got such a good swing, if the bowler misses by a wee bit of a margin, he will flick you,” Ravi Shastri said on Sony Sports.
“He has got good wrists. If the square boundaries are on a shorter side, even if at times he mistimes it, it will still go for six. Very dangerous player, and he has worked on his game, obviously, because a lot of sides started doing it to him,” he added.
Meanwhile, the former Indian all-rounder said New Zealand should have bowled more yorkers to Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
“If there is one area New Zealand have to work on in the final two games is they have got to start bowling yorkers. Much more yorkers at this opening pair. They have not bowled enough. India did that today (Tuesday). They bowled to the dimensions of the ground and kept that scoring rate down,” he observed.
The fourth T20I between India and New Zealand will be played at Eden Park, Auckland, on Friday.
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