Follow UsAbhishek Sharma is currently the world’s best T20I batter, and there’s no doubt that he will have a huge effect on the upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa, starting December 9 (Tuesday). Leading into the series, the left-hander has shown great form, smashing 148, 50, 34 and 62 in the last four T20s.
South African skipper Aiden Markram, who has previously shared the dressing room with Abhishek, insisted that the left-hander is an important wicket for the Proteas. Not just that, he also had full belief in his bowling unit to remove him early on in the game.
“I’ve played with Abhi before at Sunrisers, a great guy and bats really well, so no doubt it’s a big wicket for us. Whoever takes the new ball, that’s a challenge to hopefully get him early. He is a match-winner, and it’s an important wicket for us,” Markram said in a pre-match press conference, reported Cricbuzz.
“It’s probably just the fearlessness — being given complete licence to take the game on from ball one. Some players you almost just want them to spread their wings and take the game on. If they come off, the team is in a really strong position. The game is moving in that direction,” he said.
“The younger guys coming through naturally are playing that way because that’s entertainment but it’s also opportunities for them to get into leagues and play T20 cricket for their country. They end up doing some really cool things,” he added.
Will there be a specific plan for the Indian challenge? Markram believes that the team should just ‘express themselves’, and enjoy the game.
“No extra plans, I guess. It’s T20 cricket, it’s an entertaining format and that’s the brand we want to play. We want guys to free themselves up, enjoy the game, let their best skills be on show. Tomorrow is the start of a new series. We haven’t selected the final XI just yet, we need a few more discussions and then we’ll come to that.”
The first of the five-match T20I series kicks off in Cuttack on December 9 (Tuesday).