India bowling coach Morne Morkel has brushed aside concerns over Abhishek Sharma’s lean run in the T20 World Cup, insisting there has been “absolutely no discussion” within the team about the opener’s form ahead of their Super Eights clash against South Africa on Sunday.
Abhishek is yet to score in the tournament, enduring a frustrating start to his campaign. During Friday’s training session, he was seen in deep conversation with head coach Gautam Gambhir, who appeared to be offering technical inputs. The left-hander listened intently before moving on to fielding drills, including an extended high-catch session.
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At one stage, Abhishek even turned his arm over in the nets, bowling to teammates as part of an intense training routine. While heavy practice can sometimes add pressure during a slump, the team management appears unconcerned.
“Absolutely no discussion. He’s a world-class player,” Morkel told reporters. “So far in the tournament, luckily, there have been other guys standing up and scoring runs.”
However, the former South African pacer acknowledged that the team would expect contributions from the explosive opener as the tournament enters a decisive phase.
“We’re going through a very important stage of the World Cup now and we expect him to do well,” Morkel said. “Not just for the team, but for everyone watching, because he’s an entertaining player. We love to see that.”
Backing Abhishek to bounce back soon, Morkel added, “He’s hitting the ball well. It’s just about getting that start. Once he does, he’ll get going.”
With the Super Eights underway, India will be hoping their dynamic opener finds his rhythm at the business end of the tournament.
