Veteran Zimbabwe cricketer Andy Flower pointed out that despite Abhishek Sharma’s century, the competition for India’s opening slot remains intense with Yashasvi Jaiswal entering the series.
Abhishek Sharma, 23, made a significant impact with a century in his second international match after a disappointing debut where he was dismissed for a duck. In the second T20I against Zimbabwe, the left-handed batter scored a quickfire hundred in just 47 balls.
Abhishek has made a strong case for a spot in the T20I setup, but he will face tough competition for the opener’s slot as Yashasvi Jaiswal returns for the upcoming matches. Veteran Zimbabwe cricketer Andy Flower noted that the competition between Jaiswal and Abhishek for the opening position is highly anticipated and beneficial for Indian cricket.
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“Well, we have got Jaiswal still coming into the series, haven’t we? So that sort of competition is exactly what the Indian selectors and all the Indian followers are looking for. It makes it really interesting and it’s great for the Indian game if they have got lots of options like that,” Flower said on Sony Sports.
“He (Abhishek Sharma) should be confident at the moment coming off such a great IPL and then getting a hundred in his second international match. So what a great start. It’s really important to get those runs as a young player because confidence and self-belief are so important to your chance of doing well. So I am very happy for him and I am looking forward to seeing more of him in this series,” he added.
Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube will also join the India squad before the third T20I, both expected to play in the XI due to their inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad.
Last Updated on July 8, 2024
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