Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has dismissed concerns about opener Abhishek Sharma’s poor form in the ongoing T20 World Cup. He said the team fully supports the young batter and is ready to step up until he finds his rhythm again.
Abhishek Sharma, currently ranked as the world’s top batter in Twenty20 cricket, has struggled in this tournament. He was dismissed for zero three times in the group stage. He also missed one match due to a stomach infection. Despite this, India managed to win all four of their group games.
Speaking to reporters before India’s Super Eight match against South Africa, Suryakumar remained confident. He said he feels more concerned for the teams that will face Sharma once he starts scoring again. The captain reminded everyone that Sharma has delivered match-winning performances in the past.
Sharma has already scored two centuries and eight fifties for India in T20 internationals. He was named Player of the Tournament during India’s Asia Cup triumph last year. Recently, he smashed a 14-ball half-century against New Zealand. It was the second-fastest fifty by an Indian in T20 cricket.
Suryakumar said the team understands that form can change quickly in the T20 format. He added that last year Sharma carried the team during tough moments. Now, the rest of the squad is ready to support him in return.
The captain also highlighted India’s strong starts in the powerplay overs. Even after losing early wickets, the team has been scoring between 40 and 50 runs in the first six overs. He described this as normal and acceptable in current conditions.
However, Suryakumar admitted that the pitches have been challenging. He said the team expects high totals like 220 or more, but the surfaces have been different in this tournament. India has already adjusted its preparation to handle these conditions in the Super Eight stage.
While Sharma and Ishan Kishan will continue as openers, the batting order from number three onward will remain flexible. Suryakumar said players must be ready to adapt based on match situations. He also confirmed that he is willing to change his own position if needed.
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India now prepares for a crucial Super Eight clash, aiming to continue their strong run in the T20 World Cup.
