Abhishek Sharma like Sehwag, can't expect too much consistency from him: Uthappa

South Africa vs India: Former India batter Robin Uthappa said Abhishek Sharma deserves to be given a free hand to play his natural game and the team management should not expect 'too much consistency' from the aggressive opener. Abhishek was dismissed for 7 in the powerplay in the first T20I in Durban.

In Short

• Abhbishek Sharma was dismissed for 7 in the first T20I in Durban
• Abhishek Sharma hit a hundred as early as his second match in T20I cricket
• Abhishek has not gone past the 20-run mark in seven of his eight innings in T20Is

It's unfair to expect consistency from Abhishek Sharma and the young opening batter should be allowed to play with freedom at the top of the order in T20I cricket, according to Robin Uthappa. The former India cricketer likened Abhishek Sharma to Virender Sehwag of the early 2000s, saying the youngster's contribution should be measured by impact and not by consistency.

Abhishek Sharma made heads turn in the Indian Premier League 2024 with his opening combination with Travis Head for SunRisers Hyderabad. The Punjab opener hit 484 runs in 16 matches at a staggering strike rate of 204.21, hitting 42 sixes and 36 boundaries in the season. Abhishek played risk-laden cricket and was rewarded for being fearless, especially in the powerplays.

SA v IND, 1st T20I: Live Reactions

Abhishek made his T20I debut after the breakthrough IPL season. He hit a hundred as early as his second T20I in Zimbabwe, getting there in just 47 balls. However, Abhishek has not gone past 20 runs in any of his other seven innings in T20I cricket. More often than not, Abhishek has been dismissed early while trying to go for big shots in the powerplay. Against Bangladesh at home in October, Abhishek managed scores of 16, 15 and 4.

On Friday, Abhishek was dismissed for 7 off 8 deliveries, falling to Gerald Coetzee in his very first over of the game. Abhishek was caught by Aiden Markram while trying to clear the 30-yard circle and collect a boundary.

"I won’t look for too much consistency with someone like him. I would like to leave him as free as possible, like a Virender Sehwag perhaps in the early 2000s, where people were like ‘just go and enjoy yourself’. Because if it comes, it’s a match-winning hundred or 80, if he gets a quick start, he is still serving the purpose towards the team. So the role is defined. I wouldn’t worry too much about consistency when it comes to Abhishek," Uthappa told Sports 18 ahead of the T20I series opener in Durban.

It was a disappointing end to Abhishek's stay in the first of the four-match T20I series as he tried to play one too many shots in the powerplay.

WHY INDIA SHOULD BACK ABHISHEK

Uthappa backed Abhishek, saying the Indian batting order will benefit from the days when the left-handed opener gets going with aggressive starts.

"The boy can play, I mean I think the two of them at the top -- him and Head set the whole IPL alight with their batting. I mean I think they rubbed off on each other nicely as well. So I think the key is to give him the confidence to just go out there and play the way that he wants to play. I agree that that's when he is most dangerous. You know, he's not the type of guy who's going be consistent, but when he does come off, he's going win you a match.

"think he plays a massive role in getting the momentum on India's side as well. And the rest of the batting line and it's a long batting lineup that can just feed off that momentum. We have seen what happens when a Suryakumar comes in and the runs are on the board," he said.

India got off to a rapid start despite losing Abhishek Sharma early as Sanju Samson and Suryaikumar Yadav tore into the South African new-ball attack. Aiden Markram won the toss and opted to bowl on an overcast afternoon in Durban.