Damien Fleming picks Abhishek Sharma as India’s most important batter amid AUS vs IND T20Is

Former Australian fast bowler Damien Fleming has picked Indian opener Abhishek Sharma as the team’s most important batter amid the ongoing five-match T20I series against Australia. Sharma scored a blistering knock of 68 runs off 37 balls in the second T20I against the hosts but India were bowled out for 125 runs and suffered a four-wicket loss.

The left-hander then scored a quickfire knock of 25 runs in the third T20I at Hobart. The southpaw was at his absolute best in the Asia Cup as he amassed 314 runs in seven matches at a whirlwind strike rate of 200. Thus, he was awarded Player of the Tournament, and he is also currently the number one batter in the ICC T20I rankings.

“He’s (Abhishek) going at about two runs per ball,” Damien Fleming said on Fast Bowling Cartel YouTube channel. “He hits them to all different angles. I looked up his record. He has hardly played any first-class cricket. He doesn’t even play a lot of 50-over domestic cricket and still hasn’t played a 50-over game for India. But he’s just about their most important batter. This is like the new generation IPL player that just comes in and dominates one form, which is T20 cricket.”

On the other hand, former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie tipped Abhishek Sharma as an excitement machine as the left-hander always looks to hit the ground running.

“He (Abhishek) just goes out there and is aggressive. He runs at the first ball and just looks to put pressure on the opposition. He’s an excitement machine and the anticipation of him walking out can be seen in the last couple of games,” Gillespie said.

The fourth T20I between India and Australia will be played on Thursday at the Bill Pippen Oval, Gold Coast.