Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth has urged Abhishek Sharma to take a few deliveries before launching his attack on the opposition amid the ongoing T20 World Cup. Sharma was dismissed for the three-ball duck against the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
Earlier, the left-hander was dismissed for a golden duck against the USA and was also dismissed without troubling the scorers against Pakistan. Abhishek has adopted the strategy of taking the attack to the opposition from the get-go but after three consecutive ducks, Srikkanth wants him to get his eye in.
Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “This dismissal he slogged and got out. When you’ve scored ducks in the first two games, take time for two balls at least. There is nothing wrong in getting your eye in. There must be something wrong with you if you are getting out for ducks. You only have to assess it yourselves and take a few balls. If I were him, I’ll realize luck is not on my side, so I’ll look to play straight for four deliveries and not across the line.”
“I would tell Abhishek not to change his game but just take slightly more time. Just get the feel of it initially, but go for it even in that time if it’s in your range. But don’t play across the line. He never used to play across the line like this. You play across the line when your mind is not in control.”
The 1983 World Cup winning player highlighted that Abhishek played a desperate shot against the Dutch and he must make the required adjustment.
“The No.1 T20 batter in the world can’t score a run now. The way he got out in this match was a sign of desperation. This is where Abhishek Sharma also has to make his adjustment. Ishan Kishan takes a few balls to settle down before exploding. That time, Abhishek Sharma has to take,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
“Why are trying to smash every ball, Abhishek? Try to play four balls within the crease. There is nothing wrong in that. As a player, you have to make some personal adjustments. The world is cruel. People will praise when you are doing brilliantly but they’ll criticize in a stretch like this.”
India will take on South Africa in their opening game of the Super 8 stage at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday.
