‘If you are unable to score runs, get out’ – Abhishek Nayar on star batter’s knock in IND vs WI clash

Abhishek Nayar opined that while Abhishek Sharma scored just 10 runs off 11 balls in the important T20 World Cup clash between India and the West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, he didn’t put extra pressure on his teammates. The former assistant coach of the Indian team said that Abhishek got out after realising that he was not being able to get going inside the power play.

Nayar said that because Abhishek got dismissed early, the other Indian batters had the chance to up the ante inside the powerplay. The former India all-rounder gave the example of West Indies captain Shai Hope, who batted the entire power play and scored just 32 runs off 33 balls when he got out in the ninth over, which prevented the Caribbean side from putting up a bigger total.

“You generally measure it by how quick a start you give, and how you score more runs off fewer balls. That didn’t happen today (Sunday), but generally it’s said that if you are unable to score runs, get out because the others will get an opportunity. That’s the difference in T20 cricket. Shai Hope played the entire powerplay and then got out,” he said when asked to share his thoughts on Abhishek’s performance against the West Indies on Star Sports.

Nayar refused to be too critical of Abhishek, and instead acknowledged him for batting for the team’s benefit.

“So when Abhishek Sharma got stuck on nine off nine balls, it’s fine if he gets out. If he had batted more, the others also wouldn’t have gotten a chance, and it’s not easy to make a comeback in T20 cricket. Yes, he didn’t score runs, but he still batted for the team’s benefit because he tried to take the strike rate and run rate up so that the team would win,” Nayar observed.

India chased down a 196-run target in 19.2 overs with five wickets to spare. Sanju Samson was the star of the show, as he remained unbeaten on 97 off 50 balls. India will now meet England in the second semi-final on Thursday, March 5, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.