Abhishek Sharma’s instinctive and aggressive batting was a big factor behind India’s 10-match winning streak in T20Is. It was broken following West Indies’ record chase — the second-highest in T20I history — in Ranchi during the second match of the ongoing series.
But Abhishek’s mojo helped India return to winning ways in Indore. He is ready for challenges and can resort to “uncomfortable” things during practice sessions. Such preparation keeps him battle-ready and ensures he is not caught by “surprise” when facing the best in the business.
Abhishek’s strike rate in T20Is stands at 195.95, and the preparation he puts in is crucial to sustain that approach.
“I think the preparation is important. If I want to continue playing like this, and that’s the plan for the team, then preparation really matters. I always believe in that. It always depends on the teams and the bowlers I’m going to face. So, whenever I have time, it’s (preparation) very specific... how bowlers are going to plan against me, how I’m going to execute my plan and dominate,” said Abhishek.
“As a batter, if you have to face world-class bowlers, you have to be ready for all the plans. I always want that preparation in practice which makes me a bit uncomfortable so that I wouldn’t be surprised in the match. So I always allow myself to be in that position during training,” he added.
West Indies all-rounder Springer also lauded Abhishek’s innings.
“He is a world-class player. But I guess our ‘Plan B’ was to just be as defensive as possible and try to make him get singles and twos. It was just a matter of trying to pull him back because there’s not much you can control. The wickets are so good and those players are world-class. So, it’s not really much you can do besides be defensive,” said Springer.
Windies' challenge
India edged ahead in the series against the West Indies with a 14-run win at the Holkar Stadium on Sunday.
“West Indies are such a team that you can never say that the match has come to us against them. This was also in our mind, because we saw in the last match that the batters who come, the conditions here, it is very easy for them to take a match (away) from anywhere,” Abhishek said.
“So it was in our minds, when we were playing, we were talking about this in the huddle that we will be ruthless, we will not leave, and we will not give a single chance for a comeback.
“If you have seen today (Sunday) as well, the way (Shamar) Springer batted, we were really surprised (by) the way he played those shots. They weren’t easy shots. So you have to be on your toes all the time. If they are 50 for 5 as well, I think they have that capability to turn things around for themselves.
“In that case, we were very much prepared this time. If we got a good Powerplay in bowling, we can’t just give them one bad ball at that point in time.”
Slow start
Abhishek smashed 69 off 30 balls as India piled on 223, but it was a rather slow start by the hosts, who mustered only 13 runs off the first 14 balls of the innings. Sanju Samson was dismissed for 3.
“It was in my mind that they had a plan against me. Obviously, an off-spinner (Roston Chase) bowled in the first over. So it was just a battle between him and me. I gave him respect in the first over because I think he’s bowling really well in this series. So it’s just that the plan went pretty well for me as well, because in the Powerplay only, I was trying to get a few runs. They had a plan for me, and I had to play better than that.”
Ishan factor
Abhishek also credited Ishan Kishan, who made 37 off 18 balls. Their partnerships have been vital in helping India post big totals.
“I have to make him (Kishan) laugh... Because he likes to be in that zone when he comes to bat. I feel like there is a bond between the two of us. We have had so many partnerships, even in the IPL as well. So, we understand each other pretty well.
“Obviously, Ishan comes in when a wicket is down... (there is) that little pressure (and) I always want him to be released from that and just play the way he always plays. We don’t talk much about the conditions and everything when we are out there. We just enjoy each other’s batting and complement each other.”