Abhishek Sharma during the warm-up session. (NOT a photo) CHENNAI: From Rinku Singh’s absence — he returned home to be with his ailing father — to Suryakumar Yadav’s two-hour session, there was a lot going on in the Indian nets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!However, that was not all. With Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan plunging into bat at two adjacent nets, Abhishek Sharma – India’s shining light of the top order – opted for left-arm spin.The batsmen came and went, but Abhishek stood there by the nets, talking to the spinners and trying to grasp the twist the black-soil pitch that will play against Zimbabwe on Thursday could offer.
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Finally, after almost 100 minutes of practice, Abhishek took the bat. He did not play any spinner or pacer for Team India, they were only practice bowlers.Abhishek was in poor batting form after getting three ducks to start. There were seven foul shots in the 12-ball 15 he scored in Ahmedabad.Given the situation the team is currently in, it is highly unlikely that they will be relegated. Probably what the team management was trying to do was to allow him to bowl not so well so that Abhishek could connect his shots and regain some form and confidence. As the nets folded, Abhishek batted for half an hour and really connected, coming up with the kind of sharp shots he is known for.A few landed in the Chepauk stands as he tried to work on his game against off-spin, which has been bothering him of late.
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Should India persevere with Abhishek Sharma at the top despite his poor form?
Rinku unlikely, maybe it’s time for Sanju? Sundar will probably sitNoticing Rinku’s absence and filtering in reports that he had returned home to be with his father, who is battling cancer, the left-hander’s possible alternatives came into focus.Axar Patel should come into the team given his versatility with bat and ball. In that case, if Sanju has to play, the only player who can miss out is Washington Sundar. Washington was selected for the South Africa match but didn’t exactly shine with ball or bat. Sanju’s inclusion could also see Ishan Kishan slotted in at No.3, a position he is not exactly unfamiliar with. This could force the likes of Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav to step down.Surya works on his battingSurya’s hit rate wasn’t exactly spectacular. He scored a 22-ball 18 against South Africa that pushed India back. Tuesday’s session suggested he was trying to get the reach right. He was dismissed several times by the Indian bowlers at the nets, but that didn’t stop him from going for the shot. ‘SKY’ is clearly trying to come out of his shell and Zimbabwe’s bowling on a batting friendly pitch may provide him with an opportunity.
