Abhishek Sharma (Photo: AFP)
CHENNAI: It finally fires when it matters. The Indian top order, who has left a lot to be desired so far, came into his own with his batting beauty at the MA Chidambaram Stadium against a pedestrian attack from Zimbabwe on Thursday.
As the West Indies approach Eden Gardens on Sunday, there is bound to be a sense of relief in the camp.First off, Abhishek Sharma started, and a recycled opening partnership with Sanju Samson smashed 48 off 22 balls, setting the tone for a massive total of 256 for 4. Abhishek, over the course of his 30-ball 55, got his runs at a strike rate of 183.3, but seemed to have toned down his recklessness. The left-hander’s bat swing is considered one of the best in the business, so it’s not always necessary for him to try to generate extra power.
On Thursday, he looked more to timing the ball than power and playing the ball straighter, making scoring goals look easy and relatively risk-free.
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Explaining his leisurely approach, Abhishek said: “I just wanted to spend time on the field. So far, I have not hit 10-12 balls. I want to thank my team; they supported me and reminded me that my time will come.”While Abhishek getting a run was a good sign ahead of the must-win West Indies match, Sanju’s 24-run debut also garnered praise.
Firstly, the left-right combination was a welcome shift, and Zimbabwe were unable to use one of their off-spinners at the start of the Powerplay. Tilak Varma, who had to be relegated to number six because Ishan Kishan took his place at number three, felt Sanju’s innings was important in India’s batting comeback.“It’s important to start the opener well; Nos. 3, 4 and 5 can come out confidently when they happen. Sanju did that brilliantly today, and others followed suit,” said the southpaw.Tilak spoke about the change in the batsmen’s approach before the match that made the difference. According to the 23-year-old, it was coach Gautam Gambhir who sat down with the batsmen and asked them to come in with the mindset that has helped them play well in T20Is over the past one-and-a-half years.
“We wanted to put fear in the opponent’s mind; we wanted them to realize that we are coming for them, even if we lose a wicket… Sir Gautam reminded us of the kind of cricket we played last year against New Zealand and South Africa before the World Cup.”
“Whatever the situation, as individuals, our plan was to go out there, smile and enjoy the game,” Tilak said.No. 6 is a position where Tilak has not batted much recently. He always enjoys a little time in the middle, but after remaining indifferent at third down, the team wanted him to take over the role of tight end. Furthermore, it seems unlikely that Rinku Singh will participate in the rest of the tournament after his father’s death.
Tilak said he didn’t mind that at all, because “it’s all about the team issue.”“I have played this role for India and also for Mumbai Indians many times. So, I am ready for it. This game is about adapting according to the situation… I was just waiting for one good innings, and it came at the right time. I am quite confident going forward in the future and in my ability to win matches for the team,” Tilak said of his 16-ball 44.Another player who fought hard was Hardik Pandya. His 23-ball 50 and an economical hat-trick spell earned him the Player of the Match award.“It was an innings where I had to re-evaluate my technique. Initially, I was trying to hit the ball too hard. Then I realized I could time the ball and I did. Now it’s about maintaining our skill set and putting our best foot forward,” Pandya said.
