Abhishek Sharma's Fearless T20 Cricket Lauded by Former Coach
Praise for Abhishek Sharma's T20 Performance
The former batting coach of India has commended Abhishek Sharma, the current top-ranked T20I batter globally, for his bold and aggressive style of play in T20 cricket. Jiostar expert Bangar emphasized that Sharma's fearless mindset exemplifies the desired approach of the Indian team in this format.
"Abhishek Sharma embodies the aggressive and fearless cricket that this Indian team aims to showcase in T20 matches," Bangar remarked during a segment on JioHotstar. Since making his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in July 2024, the 25-year-old left-handed batsman has accumulated 1,115 runs in 33 matches, boasting an impressive strike rate of 188.02, including two centuries and six half-centuries.
Washington Sundar Withdrawn; Replacements Announced
In other news, Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which is set to commence on January 21. This announcement was made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on January 16.
Sundar experienced acute discomfort in his lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on January 11. Following scans and a consultation with a specialist, he was diagnosed with a side strain and has been advised to rest for several days. After this period, he will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for further evaluation and management of his injury.
The Men's Selection Committee of the BCCI has appointed star leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi as Sundar's replacement for the T20I series against New Zealand. Additionally, ace batter Shreyas Iyer has been included in the squad for the first three matches to replace the injured Tilak Varma.
Updated T20I Squad for India
The revised T20I squad for India includes: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (for the first three T20Is), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), along with Ravi Bishnoi.