India’s first-choice opening pair in the ICC T20 World Cup has seen contrasting fortunes. While Ishan Kishan has been dominating proceedings, Abhishek Sharma – who was expected to set the tournament on fire – has yet to score a run. Ahead of their final group match against the Netherlands, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak treated both the dashers equally. “We all know how capable he (Ishan) is. I have known him since 2019 when he was with India U19. He has always been a very confident player,” Kotak said. “He is not someone who cares too much about things. That is his strength, his nature. T20 cricket needs that. He plays around the ground and is very difficult to restrict if you don’t get him out.” Abhishek’s lack of runs is not a concern, the batting coach claimed. “We unnecessarily don’t over-analyse. Sometimes you start making more assumptions than the opposition. He (Abhishek) has got his plan sorted and plays the way he wants to. Obviously, we discuss the opposition, their bowling, their strengths, and whatever they have been doing in the last few games,” Kotak said. He dwelled on the runs Abhishek made in the build-up to the World Cup. “In the T20 format, sometimes even a 10-ball 30 is equally important. So it’s not like he was out of runs. T20 is a high-risk game. One or the other player will get out. If we start stressing too much, players will feel unnecessary pressure. He (Abhishek) is in good form and has a clear mindset. That is what matters for us.”Story continues below this ad Wednesday’s match would be India’s eighth in 27 days, travelling across the country and also hopping across the Palk Strait for the Pakistan game. But the players are fresh, Kotak stressed. “Everyone is in a good space. It’s really about the way the team is getting together, the way players have been interacting with each other,” he said. “I see positive signs, not only in the World Cup, but for a long time. Apart from one or two changes, it’s more or less the same team we have been playing for the last 10-15 games. It’s a great environment.” However, there may not be much change in the XI against the underdogs. “I don’t think there will be any experiments. We want to have the same momentum,” he said.Story continues below this ad “From the start of this World Cup, we have seen that any team can beat anybody. They have some very good players as well.”
T20 World Cup: ‘Don’t over-analyse’ – batting coach Sitanshu Kotak’s take on Abhishek Sharma’s lean run
