Abhishek Sharma’s batting has been dissected thoroughly by his rivals, video analysts and cricket pundits.
While his fearless approach and shot-making ability have received praise from all quarters, one aspect that has been less talked about is his game intelligence.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! This aspect of his game came to the fore on Friday, on what was a night to forget for the Indian team in Melbourne.
On a pitch where every Indian batsman struggled, the 25-year-old’s quick thinking helped him negate the seam and swing threat from the Aussie pacers. The southpaw showed courage by stepping out to the fast bowlers. He also tried to clear his front leg or walked across the line to upset their rhythm and find the boundaries.
“When wickets fall at the other end, every batter has to play according to the team’s requirements. My thinking during those moments was that the bigger the score, the better it would be for our team,” Abhishek said, giving an insight into his process.
“The team saw that I can be aggressive. I also feel that I can dominate and put the bowlers under pressure. My philosophy is that if I can give quick starts, then our No. 4, 5, and 6 will get more time to score runs. Our coach, Gambhir and skipper Surya have supported me. I’ve realised that they want me to play only in this way,” said Abhishek.
However, the cricketer admitted that conditions weren’t easy on Friday and he had to adjust accordingly. “For a lot of us, it is our first tour. As a batting unit, we got a bit surprised. I was watching him (Hazlewood) in the ODIs as well. So, obviously, the way he bowled today, I was surprised. I haven’t seen something like this in T20s,” he added.
Abhishek also revealed that he is reaping the rewards for training endlessly during the off-season. “I knew if there is so much competition, I have to do something exceptional. So, I had to work hard on my game. When I train at home, I play these shots against different bowlers with imaginary field settings. I try to execute my shots depending on the field settings. My motive is not to get out,” he added.
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