Aakash Chopra, former India opener, has stated that young batter Abhishek Sharma will be under pressure to perform in the upcoming five-match T20I series against England, as another youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal is breathing down his neck.
The first of the five T20Is will be played in Kolkata on January 22 and Chopra pointed out that while the Punjab opener has been given a vote of confidence, he is still "hanging by a thin thread.”
"Abhishek Sharma has been given a vote of confidence, which I liked, as he has been kept with the team. However, he was hanging by a thin thread. Let's be fair, Yashasvi Jaiswal won't let him breathe. He is breathing down his neck, and it's right,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Chopra also questioned Jaiswal's selection for the series, given his current form and adaptability, especially because he is unlikely to play in the ODIs against England.
"He is also a left-hander who plays similarly. He is a three-format player and is in form currently. After some time, you might start thinking as an Indian fan that he won't get a chance in ODIs as Shubman (Gill) and Rohit (Sharma) will open. If that happens, what cricket would he have played before the Champions Trophy? Only Ranji Trophy - that's not a great story,” Chopra added.
The former cricketer emphasized that the upcoming series is a "massive opportunity" for Abhishek, who has had limited chances in the past. Chopra praised Abhishek’s century in Zimbabwe but said that Sharma was vulnerable to short balls.
"He hasn’t made the most of his opportunities thus far. The century he scored in Zimbabwe was excellent. Then he played one good knock in South Africa. Short balls are troubling him, and short bowling will be done to him here also. Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, and Gus Atkinson are there, and they are all going to bowl bouncers. Jamie Overton is also a tall bowler. So, all of them will try to trouble you with short balls," Chopra said.
With no third opener in the squad, Chopra believes Abhishek will likely get all five matches.
