India’s opener Abhishek Sharma said he had to find ways to counter the West Indies’ strategy against him after a blistering performance in the third T20I in Indore. His explosive 30-ball 69 helped India win a 14-run victory and take a 2-1 lead in the five-match T20I series.
Abhishek's aggressive innings, which included six fours and five sixes, provided India with crucial momentum. His 108-run partnership for the second wicket with Ishan Kishan, who scored 37, strengthened India's position after the team had lost an early wicket.
Arshdeep Singh also produced very good bowling figures of 3 wickets for 44 runs, and India restricted the West Indies to 209/7 while defending a total of 223.
Abhishek spoke to reporters after the match and revealed that he was aware of the West Indies' plan to limit his scoring opportunities. Off-spinner Roston Chase opened the bowling for the visitors and field placements on the off side drove Indian batsmen to find other scoring options.
Abhishek said he did not plan every shot and his approach worked on field placements and the opportunities. He appreciated Chase's performance in the series and said he initially picked to respect the spinner first before attempting to score more freely.
He described the match against Chase as a personal battle and said he had to perform better than the opposition’s plans. The West Indies, according to Abhishek, were trying to limit his options during the powerplay, so he had to change his approach.
The left-handed batter added that his shots often come naturally when he identifies gaps in the field. When the fielding arrangement allows him to play off the off side, he looks to take advantage rather than follow a rigid batting plan.
India will try to stay ruthless against West Indies.
Abhishek also spoke about India's approach to batting and the importance of not allowing the West Indies to return to the contest. India was bowled out for 223 but they were able to defend the total and held the visitors to 209/7 and secure a 14-run win.
The Indian team knew that the West Indies had enough power and depth to turn the match around, he said, even when the situation appeared to be favorable to their opponents. He cited the previous match and Caribbean side’s ability to accelerate under favourable conditions as reasons for India’s cautious approach.
Abhishek said the team wanted to remain aggressive and not allow the West Indies to try to regain control. The Indian players were talking about being ruthless and keeping themselves disciplined when wickets were falling or when the opposition seemed to have momentum to build up.
He also expressed surprise at the quality of Shamar Springer's batting and praised the shots played by the West Indies batter. Abhishek said the Caribbean side could not be underestimated, even if it lost several wickets early in an innings.
According to him, the team was better prepared for the West Indies' comeback in this instance than ever before. The approach helped India to maintain pressure and win the series in a final series and eventually.
Abhishek Sharma supports Naman Dhir for success.
Abhishek also praised his Punjab teammate Naman Dhir, who finished with figures of 2/39. The Indian opener said he had known Dhir since their Under-14 cricket days and was familiar with his bowling ability.
He backed the young cricketer to achieve a great deal in the years to come for India and made it clear that bowlers need to have a clear plan and keep their heads held high at all times.
Abhishek said bowlers are often struggling to make decisions immediately after being hit for consecutive sixes. In those cases, he said, the team wanted Dhir to delay the batter's progress and focus on delivering his best ball, particularly his off-spin.
The comments showed Abhishek's confidence in Dhir's ability and that the bowler has the potential to contribute consistently to the Indian team.
Strong partnership with Ishan Kishan.
Abhishek also talked about his partnership with Kishan, saying they understood each other’s batting styles and could develop good partnerships. The two have had several partnerships in the Indian Premier League, which has allowed them to develop good chemistry on the field.
He said he tries to help Kishan relax when he comes out to bat in the first inning after a wicket falls, especially at the beginning of a game. “When he starts his innings, Kishan is very serious and focused about it, so he tries to make him laugh and feel comfortable.
A lot of the time when they bat with each other they don’t talk about what things are like. They just enjoy batting with each other and complement each other. Abhishek believes that comes with the knowledge of pressure and building partnerships is easier.
Preparation remains key to Abhishek’s batting approach.
The most important thing Abhishek said is preparation is to retain his aggressive style, especially in the powerplay. His job with the team is to make the best out of the fielding restrictions and give India a strong start, he said.
He said that preparation is predicated on the opposition and the bowlers he is going to face. With enough time, he studies the likely bowling plans and tries to make sure that he can execute his own strategy.
The third T20I victory gave India a 2-1 lead in the series, which allows the team to be able to retain its position for the rest of the series. Abhishek showed his skill to play well against the opposition and adapt with attacking intent, and his powerplay contribution to India’s batting would be integral.
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