Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik has slammed Abhishek Sharma ‘s critics after the star opener smashed 113 off just 38 balls in the third T20I against New Zealand in Wellington on Tuesday. Karthik dismissed the notion that the southpaw struggles against off-spinners, highlighting his ability to score quickly and put the opposition under pressure early in the innings. Reacting to the criticism directed at Abhishek, Karthik acknowledged that teams continue to target him with off-spin. However, he stressed that the youngster often inflicts significant damage before being dismissed.
Karthik also praised Abhishek for his ability to provide the team with explosive starts regardless of the conditions. He labelled Abhishek the best opener in the format, citing the left-hander’s consistent performances for both India and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.
“Now, if Abhishek is getting out to off-spinners after scoring 30 off 12 balls or 30 off 10 balls, whatever he’s doing is okay. 1-ranked T20I opener in the world,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz . Because he doesn’t know which way the ball is turning or because his technique is a problem, then it’s a point of discussion, if he’s getting out in the first couple of balls.
That’s point number two. But if he’s taking the attack to bowlers, putting them under pressure and eventually getting out to an off-spinner, that’s his job. That’s what he does. He’s still doing it and remains the No. “Honestly, I don’t think we should even be discussing this as a major issue. It’s simply a fact that he gets out to off-spin sometimes. There’s nothing to worry about. If he didn’t face off-spinners and only played pacers, he’d eventually get out four or five times to pace as well. That’s not how you judge a player of his calibre or the impact he’s having. He’s exceedingly special and he’s not doing it over a short period of time. He’s been doing it consistently, whether for Sunrisers Hyderabad or for India, and he’s right at the top of the rankings. To maintain that strike rate and intent across different nations and conditions is remarkable.
