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Abhishek Sharma Credits Suryakumar Yadav For Giving Him Freedom To Succeed
By CricShots - Jan 23, 2025 1:46 pm
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India’s opening batter, Abhishek Sharma, has credited skipper Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir for their unwavering support, which helped him regain form after a rough patch. The 24-year-old had been under pressure until the penultimate T20I against South Africa, with critics questioning his ability to succeed on the international T20 stage. However, he has silenced those doubts with a string of impressive performances in recent matches.

Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek’s turnaround began with a half-century in Centurion, followed by a quickfire 26 in the next game, and now a scintillating 34-ball 79 in Kolkata. His latest knock played a pivotal role in helping India chase down 133 runs with ease, showcasing his ability to dominate the opposition. Despite the doubts surrounding his spot at the top of the order before the series, Abhishek has cemented his position with consistent performances.

In the post-match press conference, Abhishek Sharma acknowledged the impact of his captain and coach’s support during his lean phase. “As a batsman, it’s natural to question yourself when you’re not performing for 4-5 games. But the coach and captain kept faith in me, reminding me of my ability to win games for the team. That belief made all the difference,” he said.

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Abhishek Sharma revealed that his plan was to replicate the approach that had brought him success in the IPL. Against England’s pace attack, including Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, he relied on staying back in the crease and using their pace to his advantage.

 

“I practiced my trigger movements before the match, knowing they would test me with short deliveries. I executed my plans well,” he explained.

India’s bowlers also played a crucial role in setting up the win. Arshdeep Singh struck twice during the powerplay, while Varun Chakravarthy’s post-powerplay breakthroughs helped restrict England to a modest total.

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With the second T20I set to be played at the spin-friendly M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Abhishek is aware of the challenges a spin-heavy attack might pose. However, his current form and growing confidence will be key as India looks to maintain their momentum in the ongoing series.