Pathan, who played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup victory in 2007, has said the bowlers have prepared specifically to counter Abhishek’s attacking approach. After the most recent duck against Dutch off-spinner Aryan Dutt at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, Pathan believes the teams have figured out a way to vindicate Abhishek in every possible way.
In the first match, there was no clear pattern in Abhishek’s dismissal. But in the last two games, a pattern has emerged. Off-spinners have bowled towards the stumps, aiming almost at the leg stump line, not giving him any space, and keeping the middle fielder inside the circle. Against Pakistan he was dismissed by a part-time off-spinner (Agha Salman). He was then bowled against Aryan Dutt in the very first over playing over the line against off-spin,’ Irfan explained in a video on his YouTube channel.
“Initially I felt there was no pattern. But if you get out the same way twice, it means the opponent has a clear plan against you. The plan is simple: don’t give him any space as an off-spinner. Today during commentary, I discussed this with Harbhajan Singh. He was bowling around the wicket to left-handers and throwing the ball inside. When a batsman with a new ball is looking for a turn, he can get stuck. That’s what happened with Abhishek Sharma,” Irfan added.
Abhishek crosses the line and gets stuck: Irfan
The cricketer-turned-commentator also wants the youngster to change his mentality while batting and be ready to play the conscious game instead of trying to hit a boundary with every ball that comes his way.
“But if an off-spinner comes along, my advice to him would be: don’t expect them to give you any space. If your bat comes across naturally, ideally you try to play straight to the ground. However, if you don’t want to completely change your natural pattern, then you have to be mentally prepared to take a single if the ball is a little too wide.”
“When the ball is bowled up, you can adjust even if your bat comes slightly over the line because you can reach it with your feet and still play straight. The real danger comes when the ball is on length and you follow your natural instinct to go over the line. That’s where you get trapped. You don’t get any space, so you have to recognize that plan,” Irfan advised the India opener.
India will face South Africa in their first Super Eights encounter in Ahmedabad on February 22. It will be interesting to see if there is an impromptu adjustment in Abhishek’s approach when the Proteas are likely to bowl to him with their skipper Aiden Markram.
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