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eam India all-rounder Abhishek Sharma is a doubtful starter for the second T20I against England, scheduled to take place at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, tomorrow. The 24-year-old twisted his ankle during practice on Friday, raising concerns over his availability.
According to a report by The Indian Express, Sharma sustained the injury during the warm-up session on the eve of the match. Despite immediate attention from the physio, Sharma was seen limping off the ground and did not bat in the nets, fueling speculation about his fitness.
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Abhishek Sharma’s Key Role in the First T20I
Sharma was instrumental in India’s victory in the first T20I at Eden Gardens. The southpaw smashed a blistering 79 off 34 balls, laced with five fours and eight sixes, to chase down England’s target of 133 in just 13 overs.
With Sharma’s injury casting doubt over his participation, India may need to rejig their opening combination, potentially disrupting the momentum gained in Kolkata.
Who Could Replace Abhishek Sharma?
- Washington Sundar
A like-for-like replacement, Washington Sundar could be drafted into the XI. While Sundar is primarily known for his all-round abilities, his experience as an opener is limited.
- Sundar has opened only once in his 83-match international career, partnering Rohit Sharma against Australia in an ODI, where he scored 18 off 30.
- However, he had moderate success opening for Tamil Nadu during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2017/18, scoring 190 runs in nine innings.
- Dhruv Jurel
Another option could be wicket-keeper batter Dhruv Jurel, who may replace Sharma in the lineup. Jurel has limited experience opening the batting, with his sole T20 opening innings coming for Uttar Pradesh against Punjab four years ago.
While neither player is a natural opener in the shortest format, both bring different skill sets that India could utilize depending on the team’s strategy.
India’s Predicament
Sharma’s absence could force skipper Suryakumar Yadav to experiment with the batting order. The team management may also consider promoting Sanju Samson to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, while accommodating Sundar or Jurel in the middle order.
What’s Next?
With the BCCI yet to provide an official update, Sharma’s availability remains uncertain. Fans and team management will be hoping for a quick recovery, as the in-form opener has been a crucial part of India’s recent success in T20Is.
The second T20I at Chennai promises to be an exciting contest, and Sharma’s potential absence will add an extra layer of intrigue to the game.
