“That was a big moment for me, that when the team wants me to do that, then I can do it”
Sreshth Shah22-Jan-20253:09
Abhishek: ‘At SRH and India, I have the freedom to express myself’
Abhishek Sharma has had a blistering couple of years in the IPL and his elevation to the India T20I side has been justified by his performances, which now includes a 34-ball 79 against England in Kolkata.But he has also blown hot and blown cold over this period, being dismissed for under 20 in eight of his first 12 T20I innings and also putting on some big-hitting shows. With India having a plethora of top-order batters, all potentially breathing down his neck and vying for the same position, the pressure can build on a man who is still only 24.However, Abhishek said his captains and coaches have told him never to change his style of play, and that’s what has given him the freedom to play fearless cricket.Related
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“I have thought always from the start to be a team player,” Abhishek said at the press conference after setting up India’s win over England in the first T20I with 43 balls to spare. “In India, there will always be a lot of competition [when it comes to selection] in our senior team. But when Suryakumar [Yadav, the T20I captain] and Gautam [Gambhir] tell me to always keep my intent, that was a big moment for me, that when the team wants me to do that, then I can do it.”As a batsman, it can play on your mind if you don’t score runs in three-four-five innings, but the way the coach and captain have managed all the players, even when I’ve not done well – even then they tell us, ‘we know you’re going to win the game for us, any game, just go and express yourself’ – I think when the captain or coach say this, you get confidence and you back yourself.”Abhishek has worked closely with some great batters as a young man coming up the ranks, especially at Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and he credits them for not only improving his batting but also giving him the scope to play freely.”I believe I’m very lucky in this,” he said. “I was working with [Yuvraj Singh] at first. Going forward, I had Brian Lara, who really helped me at SRH. Moving forward, Dan Vettori was pretty simple, he just wanted everyone to express themselves, and I think that gave me the freedom to play my shots. So obviously, with Yuvraj Singh, Brian Lara and even Gauti right now, they just want me to showcase my talent the way I play and to back myself.”
Abhishek also revealed his style of preparation leading into big tournaments and series, while giving a vote of confidence to India’s new batting coach Sitanshu Kotak.”I think it comes at the camp only, once you’re practicing for a tournament,” Abhishek said. “I try and want to face the kind of bowlers I will potentially face in a match.”Special mention to Kotzy sir [Kotak] and Abhishek Nayar . Both helped me in the nets to get me similar bowlers. I always believe that going into a match or a particular tournament, I hope I get similar bowlers that I will get in the match. Shot selection is very simple for me. I watch the ball and react.”On a good batting surface in Kolkata, Abhishek did not forget to credit the India spinners for their strangle-job of an explosive batting line-up to restrict them to 132, calling Varun Chakravarthy a “game changer”.”I think if you see the last few series, the way Varun has bowled, I think he has been a game changer for us,” he said. “When you get good wickets all around in the T20 format, you have to have that bowler that bowls really well. It is always difficult for other teams to pick him up. Also, the other spinners, Ravi Bishnoi and Axar [Patel] . It is very difficult for batters to play shots.”
