Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has questioned Abhishek Sharma for his technique and mindset amid poor form in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Kaif said Sharma bagging two back-to-back ducks was understandable but his third blob raises a lot of questions.
In the match against the Netherlands, Abhishek was dismissed for a three-ball duck. Abhishek was dismissed for a golden duck against the USA and then also bagged another duck against Pakistan. In the last two games, the southpaw has struggled to get going against off-spinners.
Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube Channel, “Look, when he got out for zero twice, it was understandable. Okay, back-to-back dismissals happen. Anyone can get out twice. But the third time, and in the same way, that raises questions. In his career, whether you consider his junior career, U-16, U-19, or IPL, I don’t think he has ever gotten out for three ducks. Two times, fine, that can happen, but three times? Not opening your account at all raises questions about technique and mindset for upcoming matches.”
“If you watch all three dismissals, he’s playing shots off the back foot. His weight transfer, his approach: a stable base, high back lift, trying to hit big. Now, on the world stage, people are studying him, analyzing his videos, and bowlers are coming prepared,” he added.
The former UP batter said the Indian opener must work on his footwork to reap rewards in the T20I showpiece.
“I think he’ll need to work on his footwork. When I first saw him in the IPL, he didn’t dance down the track. But once he started scoring, I saw him hitting Shaheen Afridi after coming down the track. That became his trend on every delivery. But cricket isn’t that simple. I was a little surprised myself. I’ve seen many great players, great hitters like Chris Gayle, but no one in white-ball cricket consistently came down the track on the first ball like this.”
“Now he should use the next few days to work on his technique, which here means his footwork. Every good spinner-hitter moves their feet, forward or back, with a stable base. That gives power and allows longer shots. Golf players have a stable base, a high backswing, and the power comes from the swing, not foot movement,” he added.
India will take on South Africa in their opening game of the Super 8 stage at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Sunday.
