India opener Abhishek Sharma has taken world cricket by storm. His bat swing has troubled many bowlers and made captains scratch their heads. Now, he is set to showcase his talent on the Australian soil. Ahead of the five-T20I series, former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar lauded Sharma saying he performs, Australia’s premier pacer Josh Hazlewood will be out of form. Nayar feels that if Sharma bats the entire powerplay overs, he will put pressure on the Mitchell Marsh-led side.
“If Abhishek Sharma is in form, Hazlewood will be out of form. The way he bats, he is known to hit the first ball for a four or a six. If you instill fear in the powerplay, it continues throughout the innings. That is Abhishek Sharma’s impact on the game. If he bats six overs, India will score between 60 to 80. It will ease the pressure for his batting partner, while it will increase for the opposition,” said Nayar.
Nayar believes that the battle against Hazlewood will be a big test for the menacing left-handed batter.
“It will be a big test for him, especially against Hazlewood, who is in good rhythm and extracting extra bounce. However, I feel that he has got enough experience by playing in the IPL and in South Africa,” he said.
‘Fearless’ Abhishek Sharma aims to make a name for himself in Australia
Like many Indian batters have done it before, Nayar wants Sharma to earn the respect of Aussies by letting his bat do the talking
“He has a fearless mindset and will want to make a name for himself in Australia. This is a good chance for him, as it is very satisfying to earn respect in Australia. From how much I know him, he would want to make a name for himself here,” the 42-year-old said.
Sharma is yet to play a T20I against Australia. Out of SENA countries, he has played only in South Africa where he scored 97 runs from four innings, including a fifty.
Sharma’s recent games
Sharma was not at his best against Australia in recent One-Day series. Earlier this month, he was dismissed for a duck, followed by a 22-run knock.