"It's do or die for Abhishek Sharma" - Aakash Chopra on IND vs SA 2024 T20I series
Aakash Chopra has opined that Abhishek Sharma is in a 'do-or-die' situation heading into India's T20I series against South Africa. He pointed out that the opener will lose his place in the Indian XI for the next series if he doesn't fire against the Proteas.
India will square off against South Africa in four T20Is, with the first game to be played in Durban on Friday, November 8. Abhishek will likely partner Sanju Samson at the top of the order in all four games.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener highlighted the significance of the four T20Is for Abhishek and even for Samson to an extent.
"I think India have two or three big questions. The pressure will be on Abhishek Sharma and a little bit on Sanju Samson, although Sanju scored a hundred in the last match. So I am not going to say that there is any pressure on Sanju," he said (7:35).
"However, since Yashasvi (Jaiswal) will come and Shubman Gill will come at some stage, you feel you should score a lot of runs whenever you get a chance to open. So it's important for him but it's do or die for Abhishek Sharma because after this when the England T20I series will be played at home, you will definitely be dropped if you don't score runs here," Chopra added.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill weren't considered for the T20I series against South Africa as they are part of India's squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. However, the duo could be back in the mix for the T20I series against England, starting in January next year.
"There has been no such performance which you would see and say that Abhishek Sharma will have to be kept" - Aakash Chopra on opener's lean run since century against Zimbabwe
![Abhishek Sharma smashed a blazing century against Zimbabwe. [P/C: BCCI/X]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/5b346-17310387723345-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra pointed out that Abhishek Sharma hasn't played a significant knock since his century against Zimbabwe.
"I love Abhishek to bits. I find him a very good player. He also scored a hundred in Zimbabwe but after that hundred until now there has been no such performance which you would see and say that Abhishek Sharma will have to be kept," he said (8:10).
The reputed commentator warned the opening duo about Team India's propensity to make frequent changes.
"It's a volatile situation in Indian cricket. The changes are happening very quickly. The season doesn't change that many times in a day in England, although it changes there many times, but the changes in the Indian team are happening like that. So it's important for the openers," Chopra observed.
Abhishek has aggregated 159 runs at an average of 22.71 in seven T20I innings. Although the left-handed opener smoked a belligerent century in only his second game against Zimbabwe, he has a top score of 16 in his other six innings.