Former India fast bowler Varun Aaron has advised opener Abhishek Sharma to refine one aspect of his batting technique against spin bowling ahead of the third T20I between India and West Indies, scheduled for October 11, 2026 at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore. The series is level at 1-1, with the West Indies winning the second T20I at Ranchi after chasing 250 runs.
Abhishek scored 21 runs in the first T20I and 20 runs in the second T20I of this series, making the clash in Indore a significant opportunity for him to contribute to India’s push for the series lead. Aaron pointed to Abhishek’s tendency to plant his front foot as an area that could be improved.
“I think the one part of his game, against spin especially, where Abhishek Sharma could maybe evolve a little bit is using the depth of the crease. Abhishek Sharma loves to plant his front foot and really score from there,” Aaron said via JioStar’s Game Plan show.
What specific technical change did Varun Aaron recommend for Abhishek Sharma?
Aaron’s advice centred on the Indian opening batter’s movement against spin bowling. The former India pacer observed that the 27-year-old rarely uses the back of the crease to create additional scoring options, and he identified this as a clear area for development in the attacking left-hander’s strokeplay at the highest level.
“You never see him really use the depth, go back, and try to score runs. Abhishek Sharma is not somebody who steps out too much, but he can go back, and he can use the depth of the crease,” the former India pacer elaborated.
The suggestion is that by moving back and across, Abhishek could give himself more time against spin and open up additional scoring areas, complementing his existing strength of driving hard from the front foot. With the series on the line in Indore, implementing such an adjustment could prove decisive if West Indies deploy their spinners aggressively in the decider.
What is at stake for Abhishek Sharma in the 3rd T20I?
Meanwhile, Abhishek enters the Indore match needing just 33 runs to become the sixth Indian batter to reach 2,000 T20I runs. Across 64 T20I matches, he has accumulated 1,967 runs at an average of 32.24 and a strike rate of 194.94, including 3 centuries and 13 fifties.
A strong performance from Abhishek in Indore would not only help India go 2-1 up in the five-match series but also allow him to reach a notable personal milestone in T20I cricket, making the match doubly significant for the Punjab left-hander.
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