Everyone wanted Abhishek Sharma to open the inning alongside Rohit Sharma in the T20 World Cup, given how the young southpaw was playing in the IPL 2024. That desire may have cost the Indian cricket team the trophy. Although it’s unfair to criticize the youngster after just one match, this isn’t a comment on him but on the thought that just because a player can perform in the IPL, he is ready to handle the challenge of playing on the international stage.
Abhishek isn’t the only one who failed in the India vs Zimbabwe 1st T20I. Barring a couple of tried-and-tested players, the XI was full of players who were on song in the IPL. What happened when they played for India against a team that isn’t even technically among the top 20 teams in the world? Well, they failed to close things out with the ball and weren’t able to chase down 116.
This may sound overly critical, but think about it. Zimbabwe was 90/9, and they then went on to score 115. Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed, both of whom were part of India’s reserves off the back of stellar performances in the IPL, didn’t live up to the hype. Avesh conceded 19 runs in his last two overs, while Khaleel went for 28 in his 3 overs.
IPL isn’t international cricket
The batting was even more woeful. Abhishek was feeling the nerves in his debut, but still, you don’t expect him to hit a long-hop straight to the fielder. He’s faced better bowlers, but playing T20 cricket for India isn’t normal. The pressure one has can’t be replicated elsewhere, and Abhishek was clearly feeling that.
Riyan Parag, who’d seemed to have come of age after being a consistent failure in the IPL, failed to read the match situation and charged the bowler on the third ball he faced. If India were chasing 200, it would make sense, but with the team chasing 115, being two wickets down and under the pump, you just don’t go for that shot.
Take this as an example. Rohit Sharma knew the pitch wasn’t suitable for a mammoth total in the T20 World Cup semifinal and was playing according to the pitch and the match situation. Suryakumar Yadav did that on multiple occasions recently as well despite being labeled as an ultra-aggressive player who has only one gear.
Dhurv Jurel helped skipper Shubman Gill rebuild the inning, but just when he got in, he threw away his wicket. It isn’t necessarily the loss of wicket, but how you get out is what matters. Most Indian batters fell due to reckless shot-making at a time when run-a-ball would do.
These batters ought to remember, net run rate doesn’t matter, getting across the line does.
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