Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik dismissed the media narrative and criticism surrounding Abhishek Sharma's perceived technical weakness against off-spin bowling, following the Indian opener’s whirlwind century in the third T20I against New Zealand in Wellington on Tuesday (October 27).
Chasing 199, Abhishek smashed 113 runs off just 38 deliveries with 11 sixes and 9 fours, helping the visitors overhaul the target in just 13.2 overs.
India began the chase in an aggressive manner, with Abhisek and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scoring 26 runs in the opening over bowled by Jacob Duffy. The pair continued their assault, taking the tourists to the highest Powerplay total in men's T20I history -- 118/0.
While Sooryavanshi fell after scoring 45 off 19 balls, Abhisek continued his carnage and went on to notch up his fourth T20I hundred in just 35 balls.
Speaking on Cricbuzz after the game, Karthik argued that because Abhishek scores at a highly destructive rate—pointing out how he smashed Kiwi off-spinner Michael Bracewell for 15 runs in just 4 balls—getting dismissed later in an explosive cameo shouldn't be labeled a "technical flaw".
Karthik emphasized that a dismissal is only a concern if a batter looks clueless or gets out for a duck right away.
“He's not producing such knocks every 5 or 6 innings, he is doing it in every 2 or 3 innings now. If he is getting out to off-spinners, if he does after hitting 30 off 10 or 12, it is okay. If he is getting out in the first two balls, he doesn't know which way it is turning, or his technique is a problem, then it is a point of discussion," Karthik said.
“He got 15 runs in 4 balls against Michael Bracewell in his first over. For a guy who is supposedly weak against off-spin. You take that any day, and you shouldn't even be discussing it as a problem. It is just a matter of fact that he gets out to off-spin sometimes. That's about it; there is nothing to worry about. I feel like he is the best opener in the world right now. For some time, he has shown that," he added.
Karthik also praised India’s ultra-aggressive, ruthless approach in the shortest format of the game under the leadership of head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer, whose stint got off to a rough start on the tour of UK earlier this year.
He credited Gautam Gambhir for instilling a fearless mindset, highlighting how the team stuck to this aggressive identity even during the T20 World Cup when facing elimination.
“They have had a couple of tough series in Ireland and England, but they slowly seem to start to gel together under the new captain. Their method of playing is very simple. Go hard, and you have to give Gautam Gambhir credit for that. Even in the World Cup, when they were almost pushed to the brink, they came out all guns blazing. In the last three games that India needed to win, they were 200-plus. It is like Roger Federer at his peak or Mike Tyson at his peak. People are scared to come and face an opponent like India," Karthik remarked.
With this victory in Wellington, India gained an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-T20I series. The penultimate match will be played in Auckland on Friday (October 30).
