Former India National Cricket Team batsman Kris Srikkanth has issued a massive ‘Abhishek Sharma’ warning to the Pakistan National Cricket Team ahead of the high-voltage Asia Cup 2025 clash.
Kris Srikkanth said that the young left-handed opening batsman Abhishek Sharma will destroy the bowling attack of Pakistan if he gets through the initial phase in the match.
Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill are opening the innings for India
The Punjab batters Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, who have been friends since their childhood days and emerged into the scene together, have been chosen as India’s openers for the Asia Cup 2025.
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Abhishek Sharma used to open the innings with the Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson, but India decided to make a change in the pair for the continental tournament.
This happened because the selection committee decided to recall Shubman Gill to the T20I setup and handed him the vice-captaincy.
Gill missed a lot of T20I matches for India over the last year due to his focus on Tests and ODIs, but was called back to the T20I setup on the back of an all-timer series with the bat in England. Also, the selectors are looking at him as the ideal successor of T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav.
I won’t hype him up too much already – Kris Srikkanth
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth lauded Abhishek Sharma for performing brilliantly in India’s last home T20I series against England, but denied hyping him too much. He said:
“He scored even against England. But we have to wait and see. I won’t hype him up too much already. Though it happens to all attacking batters, he does occasionally mishit the short delivery on his body and get caught. 5.
“Even in the IPL, he got out two or three times at square leg against that delivery. Pakistan will try bowling at his chest and into his body. But if he gets over the initial stage, Abhishek Sharma will smash the bowling.”
Notably, Abhishek looked in good touch in India’s tournament opener against the UAE, scoring 30 runs off 16 balls.
Do India need eight batters for playing 20 overs? – Kris Srikkanth
Kris Srikkanth further said that Arshdeep Singh should play the match against Pakistan because India don’t need 8 batters for a T20I match. He said:
“I said Arshdeep should play in the first match itself. Do India need eight batters for playing 20 overs? Especially against a team like Pakistan, do you need eight batters? We don’t even know if more than four batters will get an opportunity. The problem is everything has become spin-oriented and there is little assistance for medium pacers. Pakistan themselves have gone spin-heavy, dropping Haris Rauf,” said Srikkanth.
Notably, India went with Jasprit Bumrah as the only frontline pacer in the playing XI against the UAE, with Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube being the other pace-bowling options.
