'Abhishek Sharma forgets the basics': AB de Villiers blasts Yuvraj Singh’s protégé

Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers shared advice for Team India opener Abhishek Sharma ahead of the upcoming third T20I. The South African great said that Abhishek Sharma doesn’t need to force big shots every ball, adding that he should slow down a bit, watch the ball, and relax before playing his shots.

India will take on South Africa in the third match of the five-game T20I series on Sunday, December 14. Abhishek couldn’t make much of an impact in the previous match on December 11 in Mullanpur. The left-handed batter scored only 17 runs in India’s chase of 214, and the team eventually lost by 51 runs.

Not Every Ball Has to Go for a Six - AB de Villiers to Abhishek Sharma

AB de Villiers believes India’s top order is feeling unnecessary pressure to attack from the first ball, which is affecting their shot-making. The former batter said that Abhishek Sharma doesn’t need to chase sixes every delivery and added that he would benefit from building his innings with more calmness.

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"I think the top three have been labelled to be incredibly aggressive and there's a lot of pressure on them to play in a certain way. I think the trend for them moving forward for them will to be find their own game and just slow down a touch," de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.

"Not every ball has to go for a six because of the reputation you've given out in the IPL. Especially to Abhishek, I would just tell him to relax and watch the ball and just play. No one expects of you to hit every ball for a six. I think they're sometimes in a rush and forget to do the basics and lay a platform," he added.

I Don't Think They're Arrogant, but They Feel the Pressure - AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers believes India’s top-order batters are trying too hard to live up to an ultra-attacking image. He added that the top three Indian batters are putting unnecessary pressure on themselves to hit every ball, especially against high-quality international bowlers.

"The theme for India moving forward should be for the top three not to play. I don't think they're arrogant, but they feel the pressure of having to play a certain way," de Villiers stated.

"Just remember you're up against international bowling attacks and pressure is even more. Just remember why you have been successful and what the basics are. That will be my message to the top three in the Indian batting line-up," he added.

AB de Villiers on India’s T20I Middle-Order Flexibility

The former Proteas skipper also said that India’s constant shuffling of their middle order isn’t a problem, as everyone below the top three can shift around freely depending on the situation. He stated that a flexible lineup actually helps teams find favourable matchups, as some batters prefer or avoid certain bowlers.

"I don't think there is anything wrong with the middle order flexibility. They can float, they can jump up and down. The top three will stay similar," de Villiers continued.

"Four, five, six, seven - I've always liked a floating batting order as there are different match-ups and there are certain batters who don't like facing certain bowlers but also fancy facing some. As a coach, it's your responsibility to get those match-ups right," he said.

Suryakumar Yadav batted at No. 3 in the opener but dropped to No. 4 in the next match. Axar Patel was promoted to No. 3 in the second game, while Tilak Varma also moved down a spot. These changes show the team’s ongoing experimentation with their top and middle order.

Also read: England all-rounder drops 'security' reason for choosing PSL over the IPL