Ahead of the first Qualifier of IPL 2024, Aakash Chopra, the former India cricketer, has advised Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) dashing opener Abhishek Sharma to be ready for the challenge to presented by Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) spinners, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy.
Abhishek, 23, is currently the top six-hitter of the ongoing IPL season, having hit 41 maximums. He has also scored 467 runs at a strike rate of 209.41. Chopra has reckoned that the young player will need to perform at his peak against the star spin duo, who have collectively taken 33 wickets, in the IPL 2024.
What Chopra said
“I feel Abhishek Sharma will open for India on the Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka tours. He plays extremely well and will have to play even better in this match because you will get Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy in the opposition. Spin might be introduced early because of Travis Head. So you will have to get an Indian batter to neutralise spin – that’s Abhishek Sharma,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
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Chopra, 46, meanwhile also commended Abhishek’s opening partner Travis Head, noting his position as the third-highest run scorer of the season. It is worth mentioning that Ahmedabad, the venue where Head achieved a match-winning century against India in the ODI World Cup 2023 final, served as the backdrop for Australia’s triumphant victory.
“Travis Head likes this pitch. He scored runs here in the World Cup final and defeated us very badly. Bowlers try to bowl towards his body to dismiss him but he is explosive. Nitish Reddy is in very good form. So he is doing well. The No. 3 batter seemed to be a weakness but Rahul Tripathi played well in the last match,” he added.
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Kolkata Knight Riders, led by the dynamic trio of Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh, will look to showcase their batting prowess. Despite the absence of Phil Salt, KKR remains a formidable team.
However, they will face a tough challenge from Sunrisers Hyderabad, who have added the aggressive No.3 batsman Rahul Tripathi to their lineup. The real test for SRH will be their ability to adapt to a slower black-soil pitch, as demonstrated in their previous match against Gujarat Titans in March.
