Abhishek Sharma's Calculated Aggression: The Plan Behind India's T20 Firepower
The ongoing T20 series between India and New Zealand has been a tale of extremes for young Indian batsman Abhishek Sharma. Two first-ball ducks have been juxtaposed with two blistering half-centuries, creating a narrative of unpredictability. However, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has shed light on the method behind this apparent madness, revealing that Sharma's approach is far from reckless.
The Perception vs. Reality of Sharma's Batting
When presented with the pattern of Sharma's performances, Kotak offered insight that challenges public perception. "He is someone who plays a lot of shots, but his shots don't seem like slogging," Kotak explained. "He is playing more on the merit of the ball. I feel it's very important when you are an aggressive batsman, and you are trying to play maximum shots on the merit of the ball."
This disciplined aggression is evident in Sharma's technique. Almost every attacking stroke is executed with a straight bat, and when he goes horizontal, he commits fully without exaggerated movements or cross-batted swipes. "He is a clever batsman," Kotak emphasized, providing a concrete example of Sharma's adaptability.
Strategic Adaptation and Planning
Kotak revealed how Sharma learned from his dismissal in the second game in Raipur, where he was caught at deep square leg off Jacob Duffy. "In the third game in Guwahati, when he batted, if you look at the way he approached that innings, he was prepared. He was planning for the bowlers to bowl in those areas, and he was prepared for that," the coach said. Sharma expertly evaded similar traps by playing straighter with less wristy flourish.
Contrary to the image of a spontaneous hitter, Sharma's approach involves significant planning. "Obviously, it is his plan, what he wants to do when he goes in. But we definitely discuss the plans, like what areas the bowlers are trying to bowl, the pace at which they would bowl and what would be the better shot in the situation," Kotak elaborated. "It's not that he just goes and does things the way he likes. He is very open to everything."
Broader Batting Positives for India
As India builds toward defending their T20 World Cup title, the series has yielded several batting positives beyond Sharma. Suryakumar Yadav has rediscovered his vaunted touch, while Ishan Kishan has shown promising revival. Regarding Yadav's recent dry spell, Kotak remained philosophical. "We know what Surya is capable of. He has been, for a long time, T20's best batsman, number one batsman. So we always knew that he would score runs. A dry spell in this format is understandable."
Kotak highlighted that impact matters more than mere statistics in T20 cricket. "In T20, when somebody scores 60, 70, we think he played a good innings. For us, if somebody scored 10 off 25, it may be more important than that 60 from 40 balls." He expressed confidence in Sanju Samson's eventual return to form, noting the natural ebbs and flows of a cricketing career.
Ishan Kishan's Likely Return and Team Flexibility
A minor niggle had temporarily derailed Ishan Kishan's comeback, but Kotak indicated his likely return for the Thiruvananthapuram T20. "Very likely, I think he will, as far as I know. The physios are here to watch him, and obviously they will take a call."
Kishan's presence adds valuable flexibility to the lineup. "Whenever Ishan has played, he has always done well. So one thing he brings is that, obviously, with Sanju, another opening batsman and wicketkeeper, is flexibility," Kotak said with evident satisfaction.
With a seemingly flat deck expected in Thiruvananthapuram, India's batting unit appears poised for another explosive performance. Sharma's calculated aggression, combined with the returning firepower of Kishan and the consistent threat of Yadav, creates a formidable batting lineup as India fine-tunes their preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
