Abhishek Sharma Faces Pressure in T20I Series Against England

NEW DELHI, India — Former cricketer Aakash Chopra has highlighted the mounting pressure on Abhishek Sharma as India prepares to face England in a five-match T20I series starting Wednesday at Kolkata‘s Eden Gardens. Chopra emphasized that this series could be a make-or-break moment for Sharma, who must address his struggles against short-pitched deliveries to secure his future in the national team.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra noted that Sharma, despite being given a vote of confidence, is “hanging by a thin thread” with rising star Yashasvi Jaiswal vying for the same spot. “Abhishek Sharma has been given a vote of confidence, which I liked, as he has been kept with the team. However, he was hanging by a thin thread. Let’s be fair, Yashasvi Jaiswal won’t let him breathe. He is breathing down his neck, and it’s absolutely right,” Chopra said.

Chopra also questioned whether Jaiswal should have been included in the squad, given his current form and versatility. “He is also a left-hander who plays similarly. He is a three-format player and is in form currently,” Chopra added. He further speculated that Jaiswal might not get a chance in the upcoming ODIs, leaving him with limited match practice before the Champions Trophy.

The former cricketer described the series as a “massive opportunity” for Sharma, who has had limited chances to prove himself. While Sharma scored a century against Zimbabwe, his overall performance has been inconsistent. “He hasn’t made the most of his opportunities thus far. The century he scored in Zimbabwe was excellent. Then he played one good knock in South Africa,” Chopra remarked.

Chopra warned that England’s seamers, including Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, and Gus Atkinson, are likely to exploit Sharma’s weakness against short balls. “Short balls are troubling him, and short bowling will be done to him here also. All of them will try to trouble you with short balls,” he said, urging Sharma to find a way to counter this challenge.

With no third opener in the squad, Chopra believes Sharma will likely get all five matches to prove his worth. However, he cautioned that the dynamics could change quickly, especially with Jaiswal waiting in the wings.

India and England have faced each other 24 times in T20Is, with India holding a slight edge with 13 wins to England’s 11. The series will move to Chennai, Rajkot, Pune, and Mumbai after the Kolkata opener, concluding on February 2 in Mumbai.

Chopra also labeled the series as a “bat-vs-bat contest,” predicting high-scoring matches. “It’s going to be a bat-vs-bat contest. Because batting is a heavy-weight on both sides. If you hit a six, the other team can hit two,” he said, emphasizing the aggressive brand of cricket both teams are expected to play.