Abhishek Sharma got off to a difficult start in the Team India debut game on Saturday, 6 July, getting dismissed for a duck in the first T20I against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club. T20I debuts were handed to three players in the match, including Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel for India. Abhishek got his call-up on the back of an outstanding performance in this year’s Indian Premier League.
Abhishek Sharma joined as an opener in the IPL 2023. He shared his opening combination with Travis Head of Australia and made many efforts to make Sunrisers Hyderabad stand as a runner-up in the tournament. Being an explosive batter, Abhishek brought his inborn talent of six-hitting to the ground and finished the season as the highest six-hitter.
Sharma scored 484 runs in a total of 16 games at an impressive strike rate of 204.21 with a record 42 sixes, which no other player in the league had achieved. With this sundry performance in the IPL, there were really loud calls for his selection in India’s T20 World Cup squad.
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Though the selectors did not pick him for the World Cup, they saw something and included him in the squad for the Zimbabwe series, offering him a chance to prove his mettle in the highest level. Much anticipation was there as Abhishek Sharma walked out to open the innings with captain Shubman Gill, especially when India restricted Zimbabwe to a mere total of 115 runs.
Unfortunately for Abhishek, the debut did not go as expected. He was out for a duck by Brian Bennett in the very first over with a ball. There were immediate criticisms of Abhishek’s short innings, for so much was expected from the young batsman.
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Despite such a disappointing start, Abhishek Sharma’s journey in cricket has just about begun. His performance in the IPL will tell a lot about his talent and potential to perform at the highest level. He can bounce back with time as well as experience and deliver performances for which he is being noticed in the first place.
IPL Talent exposed today.
– Top performers like Ruturaj Gaikward, Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh performed badly. Two of them gone for a Golden Duck 🦆 #INDvsZIM #INDvZIM #ZIMvsIND pic.twitter.com/j5jxPs3Kp7
— Ehtisham Siddique (@iMShami_) July 6, 2024
Duck on International Debut ✅️ … Now Abhishek Sharma is Destined For Greatness ⏳️ pic.twitter.com/ouinf2X1cG
— Junaid Khan (@JunaidKhanation) July 6, 2024
There are two ways to make your debut a memorable one
1.Get a 💯
2.Get a Duck 🦆Abhishek Sharma chose the second one.He will never forget his debut score in his entire career. pic.twitter.com/anTmX6EeH7
— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) July 6, 2024
Abhishek Sharma on duck
Ruturaj out of 7
Prag 2 off 3
Rinku 0 off 2
India 22-4 while chasing 115 against mighty Zimbabwe.
Welcome to the new era of T20I India.#IndiavZimbabweOnSonyLiv pic.twitter.com/BIFhsievRe— Uzma Naz (@UzmaNaa61412457) July 6, 2024
