Nagpur, Jan 22 (.) India’s top-ranked T20I batter Abhishek Sharma has outlined the approach behind his “rich vein of form” in the shortest format, just weeks ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The 25-year-old underlined his credentials with a Player of the Match performance in the opening T20I against New Zealand in Nagpur on Wednesday, blasting 84 off just 35 balls in India’s 48-run win. Abhishek’s innings, studded with eight sixes, powered India to a commanding 238/7 after being sent in to bat.
Mixing brute power with clean strokeplay, the left-hander took the attack to New Zealand’s seamers Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson, and Kristian Clarke early, before continuing the assault against spinners Mitch Santner and Ish Sodhi once he crossed fifty.
Facing New Zealand for the first time at the international level, Abhishek said preparation played a key role in his success.
“If you watch videos of bowlers or your own batting, you get an idea of where the bowler is planning to bowl or where I’m going to play my shots,” he said after the match. “But it’s always about backing my shots. I don’t have a lot of shots, just a few, so I practice a lot and try to execute them,” ICC reported.
Abhishek’s form comes at an opportune time for India, who begin their T20 World Cup title defence against the USA on February 7. The Nagpur match was the first of five T20Is against New Zealand as India fine-tune their preparations for the global event.
Seamer Arshdeep Singh also had a chance to impress, sharing the new ball and striking early to remove Devon Conway. The left-armer finished with figures of 1/31 from four overs and said his focus remains on being ready for any role assigned to him.
“I try to be ready all the time, whenever the team gives me a chance,” Arshdeep said after the victory over New Zealand. “Whether it is a new ball, an old ball, or any other format, I try to be ready all the time and give my best whenever I get a chance.”
“The things that are not in my hands and not in my control, I should not focus too much on them. But the things that are in my control and in my hands, I should do that and just enjoy,” he added.
India’s comprehensive win in Nagpur handed them a 1-0 lead in the series and offered further encouragement as they build momentum ahead of the World Cup.
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