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Ajay Jadeja credited Rohit Sharma's fearlesnes in the rise of Abhishek Sharm as India's first-choice T20I opener. (PTI/Reuters)
Rohit Sharma’s T20I career, lasting 17 years, was bookended by India’s second T20 World Cup win last year and while that in itself could leave a lasting legacy, former India all-rounder Ajay Jadeja believes the Mumbai veteran has established the perfect launchpad for Abhishek Sharma to employ fearless cricket at the top.
Replacing Rohit in the long run since his T20I retirement, Abhishek has butchered oppositions in his first year as India’s first-choice T20I opener, and Jadeja feels the rise of Rohit’s ballistic white-ball version this decade has empowered the likes of Abhishek to head in that direction of batting.
“He (Abhishek Sharma) is a dominating player. What I will add is that the entire team have played a role in his success because to accept that we will play in this manner, Rohit Sharma originated this. He isn’t here, but he has put this habit,” Jadeja said speaking on Sony Sports.
“Otherwise, the way he got out, two years ago, six years ago, or even 10 years ago, he may have been questioned for scoring 30 runs and getting out. The point is that only if he looks to hit can he get out. The confidence that he is getting, the team appreciating him for his style of play and the eighth batter in the team is allowing him to bat in this manner”.
In his two outings in the ongoing Asia Cup, the dashing Punjab batter has blitzed thirties with a steady slate of boundaries, taking his T20I aggregates to 596 runs at a world-leading 195.40 strike rate.
Speaking in the show alongside Jadeja, former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar detailed Abhishek’s appetite for game time, irrespective of the occasin.
“He goes everywhere to play matches. When he is not playing for India, whether it is in Delhi or Dehradun or Rajasthan, or Mumbai, wherever there is cricket happening, wherever there is a ground, wherever he can get a chance, Abhishek Sharma goes there to practice. He’s not got the talent, but he is also diligent. The mindset to become a cricketer is most important to him,” Nayar remarked.
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