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NEW DELHI: India captain Suryakumar Yadav mixed humour with sarcasm when the unavoidable question about Abhishek Sharma and his hattrick of ducks surfaced ahead of India’s T20 World Cup clash against South Africa on Sunday.

"About Abhishek's form, I worry for the people who are worried about Abhishek's form. I worry about them. Why are they so worried about Abhishek's form?" Surya, the protective skipper who believes in the team motto All For One and One For All, said as he brushed aside the query much like his trademark Supla shot.

"Last year, Abhishek covered for all of us. Now it is our duty to cover for him," said Surya, clearly referring to his own lean patch that stretched over the past year.

Surya backs his match winner

For the world’s No 1 ranked T20 batter Abhishek, the captain was ready to stand firmly behind a player who had carried the side in the build up to the World Cup.

"But I think about those teams who are going to play against him. That he has not yet scored a run. You know the rest of the answers. When he scores a run, you have seen what happens. It happens, it's a team sport, it keeps going on."

Abhishek has fallen to off spinners in successive matches while attempting big shots, but Surya is unfazed by the pattern of dismissals or the method.

For him, the key is that Abhishek continues to play his fearless brand of cricket, come what may.

"Our team requires a certain kind of game from Abhishek and he is trying to play in that manner. We never want him to lose his identity. If his method doesn't work, we are there to cover for him," Surya said.

Spin tactics in focus

During South Africa’s training session on Friday, captain Aiden Markram, who bowls off breaks, was seen placing two cones around the off and leg stumps in a bid to maintain a tight line across the three stumps.

It is a strategy that has worked earlier, with Salman Ali Agha and Aryan Dutt finding success against Abhishek using similar methods.

"Whether they put off-spinners or left-arm spinners, we have played so much cricket, I think everyone is well equipped. You won't get a rough patch even if an off-spinner bowls in first two overs. We play franchise cricket, domestic cricket. In that, off-spinners also bowl with the new ball so many times to the left-handers."

Stick to the game plan

The skipper stressed the importance of clarity in approach.

"Everyone has their own game plan of how to play and who to play. At that time, if the team has a requirement to play shots and make runs, then we will make runs against off-spinners also. But as I said, everyone has their own game plan."

(With PTI Inputs)