Abhishek Sharma played a belligerent knock in the first T20I between India and England at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, guiding his team to a comfortable victory. Abhishek was at his devastating best during the match and played with utmost freedom.
After his brilliant knock, former India opener Aakash Chopra compared him to Rohit Sharma, who has retired from T20Is after the T20 World Cup 2024. Chopra recalled a time when Rohit was praised for his devastating batting when he played in the shortest format.
Aakash praised Abhishek for his outstanding innings under pressure against a quality bowling attack. It was an important innings for the youngster who was under immense pressure going into this game.
Also read: Shocking! Varun Chakravarthy gives a strange assessment after heroics in 1st IND vs ENG T20I
Aakash Chopra compares Abhishek Sharma with Rohit Sharma
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra compared Abhishek Sharma to Rohit Sharma and called his knock against England in the first T20I important. He praised Abhishek for a brilliant innings against an outstanding bowling attack.
“Abhishek Sharma – we believe in karma, we believe in Sharma. We used to say that about Rohit. It’s too early to say the same thing about Abhishek, but he made Abhishek (an auspicious start). I thought it was an important innings,” Chopra said.
“The opposition had some real bowling – Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton. It’s a good bowling attack. In a scenario like that, you had to bowl well to score runs. He batted really well from the start. He hit Mark Wood for a six, then a six over third man and a straight four,” he added.
Abhishek Sharma was aggressive from the first ball and bowled under the nose of the English bowlers. He was especially attacking against Gus Atkinson and Adil Rashid and didn’t stop once he was set up.
“They could have looked at Yashasvi (Jaiswal)” – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra feels that Yashasvi Jaiswal could have been included in place of Abhishek Sharma given the latter’s poor outings with the bat in the last few T20Is. However, he delivered at the right time when he was under pressure to perform.
“Abhishek Sharma was under pressure as he bowled but didn’t score too many runs. The pattern of this team is to hit fours and sixes and maximize the powerplay, but if you get out three times, they just get you out,” Chopra said.
“They could have looked at Yashasvi (Jaiswal). He could have played this series and nobody would have raised an eyebrow or batted an eyelid,” he remarked.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was in India’s T20I squad even before Abhishek Sharma. Jaiswal was also in the Indian squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup but did not win a match. However, he has not played a single T20I since Abhishek’s T20I debut and has just been considered for the Tests.
Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy shine for India
Abhishek Sharma got 79 off just 34 deliveries to lead India to a big win in the first T20I against England. He smashed 5 fours and 8 sixes during his knock. He was at his aggressive best and showed off his full range of strokes in an entertaining shot.
Earlier in the day, India had restricted England to 132 in the first innings. The men in blue hit the target in just 12.5 overs after Abhishek’s magnificent knock. Varun Chakravarthy was adjudged man of the match with his 3-23 in four overs.
