Abhishek Sharma's career over in South Africa? Virender Sehwag reference kicked in

Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa said that it's unfair to expect consistent performances from young opener Abhishek Sharma in T20Is. Robin Uthappa said that Abhishek Sharma should be given more freedom to play at the top of the order, while comparing him to Virender Sehwag in the early 2000s.

The left-handed opener gained attention during his impressive 2024 IPL season with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He played a key role in SRH's run to the IPL 2024 final, where they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Sharma earned a call-up from the national cricket team for the Zimbabwe tour in July.

Abhishek had a disappointing start to his career, as he was dismissed for a duck on debut. However, he bounced back with a sensational century in his next match. He has struggled to make an impact since his century, as he failed to score more than 20 runs in six consecutive innings in the format.

Won't Look For Too Much Consistency - Robin Uthappa

Robin Uthappa said that the management should focus on Abhishek Sharma's impact rather than consistency. He added that Abhishek can fulfill his role for the team by providing a quick start or an occasional match-winning knock.

"I won’t look for too much consistency with someone like him. I would like to leave him as free as possible, like a Virender Sehwag perhaps in the early 2000s, where people were like ‘just go and enjoy yourself’," Uthappa told Sports 18 ahead of the T20I series opener in Durban.

"Because if it comes, it’s a match-winning hundred or 80, if he gets a quick start, he is still serving the purpose towards the team. So the role is defined. I wouldn’t worry too much about consistency when it comes to Abhishek," he added.

Give Him The Confidence To Just Go Out There - Robin Uthappa

Uthappa said that Abhishek Sharma’s aggressive starts would be valuable for India’s batting lineup. He highlighted how Abhishek and his partner had made a significant impact in the IPL. Uthappa said that the left-handed batter is most dangerous when playing freely.

"The boy can play, I mean I think the two of them at the top -- him and Head set the whole IPL alight with their batting. I mean I think they rubbed off on each other nicely as well. So I think the key is to give him the confidence to just go out there and play the way that he wants to play. I agree that that's when he is most dangerous. You know, he's not the type of guy who's going be consistent, but when he does come off, he's going win you a match," said Uthappa.

Abhishek Sharma Dismissed For Just Seven Runs In First T20I

There is intense competition among opening batters for a spot in the India T20I team. Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Ruturaj Gaikwad have made an impact in the role. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra called the ongoing South Africa series a "do-or-die" situation for Abhishek Sharma.

Abhishek had a disappointing start to the T20I series against South Africa. He was dismissed for just seven runs off eight balls. He played a wild slog off Gerald Coetzee in the fourth over but only managed to get height, not distance, as the ball was caught by Aiden Markram near the 30-yard circle.

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