Abhishek Sharma, right, and Dion Myers of Zimbabwe (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: Former India captain and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar admitted he was taken aback – not by a six or a gutsy knock – but by Abhishek Sharma’s defensive shot during India’s emphatic win over Zimbabwe in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Abhishek, who endured a rough phase after returning from a stomach ulcer, returned to form with a smooth 30-ball 55 in India’s 72-run win on Thursday. The knock ended a worrying sequence of three consecutive ducks and came at a crucial moment in the tournament.
India keep T20 World Cup dream alive, now to Kolkata
“We know how good Abhishek Sharma is as a batsman. He silenced his doubters with this 55-run knock against Zimbabwe,” Gavaskar said on JioStar.What particularly caught the attention of the legendary batter, however, was not only the runs, but also the method.“He took that extra time to open the innings. There was a method to his batting. He respected the out-spinner, didn’t take risks and played with calm and composure,” Gavaskar noted.Then came the moment that surprised him the most.“He really played a defensive stroke in this game. He defended the ball. It surprised me because we don’t usually see that from Abhishek,” Gavaskar added, highlighting how rare such restraint is from a naturally aggressive opener. For Gavaskar, the innings meant more than a return to form – it signaled growth.“I really think it’s a learning curve for him. Every cricketer goes through a rough period in head-to-head matches where they don’t score. It’s about how much you learn from it,” he said. “I feel Abhishek has learned a lot and that will bode well for him going forward, in the next few games and the very important clash against West Indies in Kolkata.”Gavaskar also reflected on India’s tactical adjustments after the disappointing outing against South Africa.“India broke against South Africa. They realized they needed a right-to-left combination at the top. Learning from the previous match was very important,” he noted, praising the decision to bring Sanja Samson back to the opening slot.Looking at a virtual knockout against the West Indies, Gavaskar warned that India could not afford complacency.“West Indies are a completely different challenge. You can’t take them for granted. Their batsmen are in top form. Their bowlers are doing well. They are punishing the mistakes of the opposition,” he warned.
