Team India left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh has disclosed that explosive opener Abhishek Sharma prefers not to face India’s bowlers during net sessions. Arshdeep jokingly remarked that the bowlers consider themselves fortunate, as they are spared the challenge of bowling to the aggressive batter in practice.
Abhishek carried his red-hot form into the T20I series, smashing a blistering 84 off just 35 deliveries in the opening game against New Zealand at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Wednesday, January 21. After India were asked to bat first, the left-hander tore into the bowling attack, striking five boundaries and eight sixes to power the hosts to an imposing 238/7.
While defending the total, India restricted New Zealand to 190/7. Addressing the media after the match, Arshdeep reiterated that Abhishek deliberately avoids batting against his own team’s bowlers in the nets, adding:
“In the nets, he mostly says that he doesn’t want to bat against us. He doesn’t play against bowlers from his own team a lot. We are quite happy that we don’t have to bowl to him.”
Speaking about the opener’s outstanding run with the bat in T20Is, the Indian pacer further said:
“It’s good to see him bat [so well]. We have played a lot together and the way he is dominating at this level, feels really good. Hopefully, he keeps playing the same way.”
“Three Wickets In The Middle Overs” – Arshdeep Singh On Indian Spinners In 1st T20I
Despite India securing a convincing 48-run victory in the opening T20I in Nagpur, the spinners conceded runs at a higher rate. Left-arm orthodox Axar Patel finished with figures of 1/42 in 3.3 overs, while leg-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy returned 2/37 from his four-over spell. However, Arshdeep Singh came to the defence of the slow bowlers, stating:
“They are doing well. Today as well, they took three wickets in the middle overs. There is nothing to be worried about. The wicket was very good for batting, so runs were bound to be scored. But, when there will be some help from the wicket, we will get to see different results in the middle overs. We have top class spinners.”
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