3 min learnMar 1, 2026 06:24 PM IST
When India tackle West Indies within the T20 World Cup 2026 Tremendous 8 sport in Kolkata, hopes might be excessive that two star left-handers, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, will give the host nation the precise begin in what might be a digital quarterfinal conflict on Sunday.
Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin identified how Abhishek’s battle in opposition to off-spinners and his lack of photographs on the leg aspect may bother him in opposition to West Indies off-spinner Roston Chase.
“Abhishek goes at a strike charge of solely 85 in opposition to off-spin as a result of off-spinners have tended to cramp him on the pads. He has no photographs on the leg aspect in opposition to off-spin,” stated Ashwin on his YouTube channel.
“He has additionally not hit them down the bottom as a result of each time he has stepped out, the bowlers have gone full on his pads. Off-spinners are daring him to hit on the leg aspect, and he doesn’t have photographs there,” he added.
Abhishek began with three back-to-back geese earlier than returning with 15 in opposition to South Africa. He lastly managed to attain his maiden T20 World Cup fifty in opposition to Zimbabwe, whereas Kishan is India’s highest run-scorer at this World Cup. He slammed two fifties earlier than being demoted to No. 3, permitting Sanju Samson to open alongside Abhishek to deliver a right-hander into the combination on the prime.
“Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan are left-handers however of various varieties. (Roston) Chase has to strategy it in a different way, bowling to each,” stated Ashwin. “Abhishek’s favourite shot is inside out over covers. He doesn’t have a sweep shot to entry the sq. leg boundary, and likewise lacks scoring choices within the lengthy on and deep midwicket area. For those who bowl on the legs to Ishan Kishan, he additionally doesn’t have photographs to entry the sq. leg area. However what he does is step down and smash the ball straight.”
Talking on the plans in opposition to Abhishek and Kishan, Ashwin stated, “Abhishek Sharma will smash the off-spinner if he bowls exterior off stump. However for Kishan, if the off-spinner bowls it exterior off stump, he tries to smash it to the lengthy on or midwicket area and skies it within the air. So you possibly can’t simply bowl off-spin with the identical plan in opposition to each simply because they’re left-handers. Every has a special strategy, and if the bowler doesn’t comprehend it, they are going to complement each other. Ishan Kishan needs to be challenged exterior off stump and Abhishek Sharma down leg aspect.”