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Abhishek Sharma isn’t going to shun his aggressive intent since the approach has helped him become the world’s best T20I batter currently, feels former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel. On Wednesday, Abhishek played a short but entertaining innings of 14-ball 19 at the rain-hit first T20I between India and Australia in Canberra, and Patel predicted the performance is just the trailer of what’s to come in the remaining four games. Opening the innings alongside captain Shubman Gill, Abhishek got India off to a promising start at the historically low-scoring Manuka Oval before perishing in the fourth over when Nathan Ellis outfoxed him with a slower delivery to have him hole out at mid-off. 16 of his 19 runs came in boundaries. “The trailer showed how the picture is going to be,” Patel said on Star Sports. “He (Abhishek) has decided that he will bat with this kind of approach only, and he should as well because he has become the world’s No. 1 batter by playing like this only. He has been batting with such consistency while playing like this.” Patel felt Abhishek is someone who enjoys attacking the bowlers irrespective of the conditions, and he’s not going to get out while offering defensive shots. “You need to make a little adjustment for sure when you go and play in a new country. You need to get used to the bounce and pace. Since Abhishek plays with a fearless approach, you will see positivity every time. You played freely even though you came to Australia for the first time. You will never see Abhishek Sharma getting out while defending. He will get out playing big shots only,” Patel said. Patel also feels that batting alongside someone like Abhishek rubs onto his batting partners, and his intent makes it easier for them to settle in without having to worry about forcing the issue early on in the innings. An example of it was the first T20I when Gill, the vice-captain, took his time before blazing away to an unbeaten 37 off 20 with the help of four fours and a six. “Firstly, he (Gill) shares a comfort level with Abhishek. That matters a lot. Both have almost grown up together. Secondly, the way Abhishek plays, it becomes easier for whoever is batting with him,” Patel noted. “If he has to give himself some time, concentrate on strike rotation for one or two overs and then play big shots, he can do that because Abhishek will go for big shots from the first ball. It suits Shubman Gill as well. We have seen that in the IPL also. He takes his time and plays big shots after that.”
