"Only once besides that century, you have batted till the 3rd or 4th over" - Aakash Chopra on Abhishek Sharma's struggles ahead of IND vs SA 3rd T20I
Aakash Chopra has noted that Abhishek Sharma hasn't played a substantial knock in T20Is apart from his century against Zimbabwe. He urged the left-handed opener to keep the pull shot aside and give himself more time at the start of his innings.
India will face South Africa in the third T20I of the four-match series in Centurion on Wednesday, November 13. Abhishek, who aggregated a paltry 11 runs in the first two games, will want to give a better account of himself in the third match.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener warned Abhishek about the short ball.
"We need to talk about Abhishek Sharma once again because only two matches are left now. It's almost confirmed that Sanju Samson has taken one spot. Although he got out in the last match, he has scored two back-to-back centuries. The short ball problem Abhishek Sharma has, I feel he should leave that shot. You get out while trying to pull," he said (9:45).
"You got out against Bangladesh in Hyderabad and you got out similarly even for the SunRisers Hyderabad. They are going to bowl bouncers as soon as they see you. So take a single off that ball and try to score runs towards third man. Give yourself a little time because the truth is that only once besides that century (against Zimbabwe), you have batted till the third or fourth over," Chopra added.
Abhishek Sharma was caught at short fine leg while attempting a pull shot off Gerald Coetzee's bowling after scoring four runs in the second T20I against South Africa. He was dismissed for seven in the first game, caught at mid-off off the same bowler while attempting another big shot.
"If this time passes, it won't come back" - Aakash Chopra's advice to Abhishek Sharma
![Abhishek Sharma averages 18.89 in 10 T20Is. [P/C: BCCI]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/d9233-17314713398717-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Abhishek Sharma needs to make the most of the remaining two T20Is against South Africa.
"You are getting out in the first two overs itself, which means you are going too aggressive too soon. which may have worked in the past, but since it is not working now, give yourself a little time because if this time passes, it won't come back," he said.
The reputed commentator added that the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) opener would otherwise lose his place in India's playing XI for the next series against England and will have to wait for IPL 2025 to stake his claim for a spot.
"You will then have to wait for the IPL to be good once again because when the next five-match T20I series happens against England, you will not be opening. Shubman (Gill) and Yashasvi (Jaiswal) would become available then, so how you will get a place to open? Sanju (Samson) has already taken one place. So I am saying that it is now do or die, now or never," Chopra elaborated.
Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal weren't considered for the T20I series against South Africa as they are part of India's Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
Sanju Samson has virtually sealed his place in India's T20I side after scoring successive hundreds. He played a 111-run knock in the final game against Bangladesh and followed it up with a belligerent 107 in the first match against South Africa.