Indian eye series win vs. Zimbabwe: Can Abhishek Sharma break his slim run?

Abhishek Sharma (ANI Photo) After the bruising their T20 side suffered on the UK tour, this series from Zimbabwe could be just the ideal partner that India needed.After finally registering their first win under new T20 captain Shreyas Iyer after a seven-match unbeaten run at the helm, India will look to secure an elusive 2-0 lead when they take on Zimbabwe in the second T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday.After a tough run where they were whitewashed by Ireland (0-2) and England (0-4), India’s convincing seven-wicket win in the series opener restored much-needed confidence.Still, even as the visitors look to build on that momentum, one player who will be under the scanner is explosive opener Abhishek Sharma.Two years ago, Harare was the venue where Abhishek announced himself on the international stage with a breathtaking first T20I hundred in only his second match.The stylish left-hander returns to the same ground after a worrying slump in form and is looking for a spark. Abhishek started the England series promisingly with scores of 59 and 43 and then 10, 16, 3 and 1. In the opening match on Thursday, his awkward eight-ball 1 suggested that he lacked rhythm and confidence.With the competition for placements heating up, Abhishek knows he needs runs. Senior opener Sanju Samson, though absent from this tour, remains in the selectors’ plans and has been named in India’s squad for the Asian Games later this year. A big score in Harare would not only help India seal the series but also strengthen Abhishek’s case in the fast-paced T20 setup.However, India found a new hero in the opening match.Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a stunning 18-ball fifty to become the youngest player to score a T20I half-century.The 15-year-old, who came through a difficult England tour where pace bowlers like Jofra Archer relentlessly tested him with short-slip bowling, responded in style against Zimbabwe.He fearlessly took on Richard Ngarawa and Blessing Muzarabani and produced a rousing innings that underlined why he is so highly rated.Backed by a blistering 35 from Ishan Kishan and an unbeaten 28 from skipper Iyer Sooryavanshi, he kept India chasing the target with over six overs to spare.Head coach VVS Laxman would be equally pleased with the performance of India’s improved pace attack. The biggest positive was the return of Mayank Yadav, who made an impressive comeback after two injury-ravaged years. Delhi finished quickly with figures of 2 for 18 and kept hitting high speeds, with his 150km/h opening delivery to Brian Bennett suggesting his pace remains intact.Prince Yadav has also shown signs of improvement after a lean England tour, while debutant Ashok Sharma has shown enough promise to suggest he could become another exciting fast bowling option.