NEWS
Follow UsAbhishek Sharma has been so good for Sunrisers Hyderabad in this year's Indian Premier League that people have started talking about taking him to the West Indies and the USA for the upcoming T20 World Cup in June.
In eight innings, the left-hander has smashed 288 runs at an average of 36 and an insane strike rate of 218.18. The 23-year-old has been working closely with Yuvraj Singh, who believes Abhishek needs a bit more time to get ready for international cricket.
"Abhishek is almost there but I don't think he is ready for the World Cup right now," Yuvraj, who has been named as an ambassador for the T20 World Cup, told Cricbuzz.
"For the World Cup, we have to take an experienced side. Obviously some guys have played for India. After the World Cup, he should be prepared to play for India. That is what he should focus on. Coming six months will be very important for Abhishek."
Amongst batters who have faced at least 80 deliveries in the powerplay this season, Abhishek has the best strike rate (233.7) and balls/sixes (4.8). The young batter has hit more sixes (26) than fours (21) in the ongoing IPL. Abhishek has scored at least 29 runs in seven out of his eight innings but only has one fifty to his name, something that Yuvraj needs him to work on.
"His performance definitely is better. His strike rate has been phenomenal but big scores haven't come. With this kind of strike rate, it's important that you get big scores if you want to compete for a spot to play for India. Great strike rates, yes, but there have to be a couple of big knocks to make sure that you are worthwhile to play for India.
"He has the ability to play big shots, the big sixes which he has been hitting are very good, but I think he has to learn to take singles and know how to rotate strike. He has to learn to play out the bowlers who are bowling well and target other bowlers. I think work has to be done on that aspect."
Abhishek has formed a deadly duo with Travis Head, who, unlike his young opening partner, has managed to convert his couple of starts into big scores. The left-hander from Australia has two fifties and a century and Yuvraj wants Abhishek to learn this aspect of batting from Head.
"He is definitely getting a lot of confidence from Travis Head. Travis is a world class player right now. He got a hundred in the World Cup final, he is a big match player. Abhishek has the opportunity to learn how to convert a good start into a big knock. That is what he has to learn from him."
Yuvraj also said that Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah are going to be the key men for India in the T20 World Cup. "Suryakumar Yadav (is India's key player). Because the way he plays, he can change the complexion of a game in 15 balls. And he is definitely a surety... for India to win this T20 World Cup, Surya is going to be the key," Yuvraj was quoted as saying by ICC.
"I think Jasprit Bumrah is also the key with the bowling and I would like to see a leg-spinner in the squad as well, like Yuzvendra Chahal as he has been bowling really well. But being a batter, I would say Suryakumar Yadav (is the key player)."
Yuvraj wants Shivam Dube to be part of the World Cup squad. The tall left-hander has been a consistent batter for Chennai Super Kings since 2023. Even this year, Dube has smashed 311 runs in eight innings @ 51.83 and a strike rate of 169.94.
"I would like to see Shivam Dube in the squad. He has been in and out of the (Indian) team, but this IPL he has been batting very well and he is someone who can be the game-changer. There are a lot of other guys who have been playing for a while now, but I would like to see Shivam Dube in the mix."
Talking about in-form Dinesh Karthik, Yuvraj said: "DK (Karthik) has been batting well, but the thing with DK is that the last time (2022) they picked him and the T20 WC was on he didn't get to play.
"If DK is not in your XI I don't think there is any point in picking him. There is Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson and both guys are in great form and obviously they are younger. I would like to see DK in the mix, but if he is not going to play then you would rather have someone who is younger and can make the difference."
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