Abhishek Sharma had a horror evening in the IND vs WI T20 WC26 match at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. Having dropped two catches, the onus was on the left-hander to put India on top in the run chase in their must win clash. Instead, Abhishek managed 10 off 11 balls, setting the hosts back. As he returned to the dressing room, head coach Gambhir gave him a cold stare, summing up his disappointment.
Abhishek seemed to have returned to form with a half-century against Zimbabwe in Chennai, with India post a tournament high 256. With a chase of 196, India needed a fine start to keep them in hunt for a place in the semis.
The left-hander smashed his second ball for a boundary but that was the only good bit about his innings. He failed to rotate strike and motored to a 11-ball 10. Stuck at the crease, Abhishek tried to take the risk, but could only sky it to Shimron Hetmyer at deep square leg.
Earlier in the field, Abhishek Sharma was guilty of dropping two catches in crucial junctures. Early in the powerplay, Roston Chase was deceived by a slower delivery by Jasprit Bumrah. Abhishek gathered under it but spilled it, offering him a reprieve at 15. Chase, promoted to open the batting, slammed a 25-ball 40 to set the tone for the West Indies innings.
Later in the innings, he dropped the dangerous Rovman Powell in the penultimate over of the innings. The West Indian added a boundary later to power them to 195 batting first in Eden Gardens.
