Cricket

Abhishek Sharma, once hailed as a rising star in Indian cricket, now faces intense scrutiny due to his recent batting struggles. After a promising start to his T20I career marked by a sensational century, his form has plummeted, raising questions about his future in the squad.Abhishek's international T20 debut was far from ideal, with a first-ball duck against Zimbabwe. However, he quickly redeemed himself with a blistering 46-ball century, showcasing his explosive potential. Since then, however, his form has been inconsistent.In the ongoing four-match T20I series against South Africa, Abhishek has been given multiple opportunities to open alongside Sanju Samson. However, his performances have been disappointing, with scores of 7 and 4 in the first two matches. Both dismissals came via bouncers, exposing his tendency to play hurried shots.Despite the mounting pressure, Abhishek's father and coach, Raj Kumar Sharma, remains optimistic. He believes his son is not out of form but needs one strong innings to regain his confidence. He also highlights Abhishek's ability to bounce back from setbacks, citing his century after a duck on his debut.With tough competition in the Indian squad, Abhishek's place in the team could be at stake if he doesn't find form soon. The third T20I might be his last chance to prove his worth and secure his spot.

Virat Kohli, the former Indian captain and batting maestro, has been facing a prolonged slump in form, raising concerns about his aura and impact on the opposition. Former India batsman Akaash Chopra believes that Kohli no longer possesses the intimidating presence that once characterized the likes of Vivian Richards and Sachin Tendulkar.Kohli's struggles have been evident in recent Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, where he managed only 99 runs in four innings and 93 runs in six innings, respectively. His overall record in the last 10 Test innings stands at a meager one fifty.Chopra attributes Kohli's decline to a combination of factors, including technical flaws and a lack of confidence. He points out that Kohli's body language and the reactions of opposing teams suggest that he is no longer the feared batsman he once was."Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, or Sir Vivian Richards, these players have an aura that once they come to bat, they would dictate," Chopra said. "That sort of aura used to be there when Kohli used to come in. When Kohli comes in now, it seems like he can be dismissed without any issues."Chopra also highlights Kohli's repeated errors in judgment, such as missing full tosses and taking unnecessary risks. He believes that these mistakes indicate a lack of focus and concentration.Despite his struggles, Kohli remains a key player for India, and his half-century in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa earlier this year was a reminder of his class. However, Chopra warns that Kohli's overall performance in 2023 has been disappointing, and he needs to rediscover his form to regain his status as one of the world's best batsmen.

Virat Kohli's struggles with form continued in the first Test against Bangladesh, as the Indian batter failed to make a significant impact in either innings. In the first innings, Kohli chased an outside off stump delivery by Hasan Mahmud and was dismissed for 6. In the second innings, he fell victim to a wrong leg-before-wicket decision, which he chose not to review. Ultraedge later revealed that the bat had made contact with the ball, meaning Kohli would have been not out had he opted for a review.Kohli's poor form has been a concern for India across all formats this year. In 15 matches and 17 innings, he has scored just 319 runs at a sub-par average of 18.76, with only one half-century to his name. His best score of 76 came during the T20 World Cup final against South Africa.In Tests, Kohli's average has dropped to an eight-year low. In 114 Tests, he has scored 8,871 runs in 193 innings at an average of 48.74, with 29 centuries and 30 fifties. The last time his average was lower than this was during November 2016, when he averaged 48.28.The period of 2020s has not been kind to Kohli in white colours. In 30 Tests played since the start of 2020, he has scored just 1,669 runs at an average of just 32.72, with just two centuries and eight fifties in 52 innings. His best score is 186.In five Tests and eight innings during the 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship cycle, Kohli has scored 392 runs at an average of 49.00, with a century and two fifties. His best score is 121. India will need Kohli to fire in coming matches against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia if they are to secure their maiden WTC title.

Prithvi Shaw, hailed as India's next cricketing prodigy, made a grand entrance into international Test cricket with a scintillating century on debut. However, his promising start was marred by a puzzling decline in form, leaving fans and experts alike baffled.Shaw's early career was marked by remarkable achievements. He joined an elite group of Indian players to score a century on their Test debut, alongside legends like Rohit Sharma and Sourav Ganguly. He also held the record for the highest individual score in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for several years.Despite these early accolades, Shaw struggled to maintain consistency at the highest level. His form dipped inexplicably, raising questions about his technique and mental fortitude.India's return to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 was highly anticipated. However, Shaw's performance in the first match was a major disappointment. He was dismissed for a duck by Mitchell Starc on the second delivery, setting a challenging tone for the series.Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting analyzed Shaw's batting technique, identifying a weakness against inswinging deliveries. Shaw's lack of front foot movement created a gap between his bat and pad, which the Australian bowlers exploited ruthlessly.Shaw's struggles continued in the second innings, where he was dismissed by Pat Cummins in a similar fashion. His technical flaw was exposed, and he was subsequently dropped from the Indian Test team.Despite his early promise, Shaw's career has been marked by inconsistency and technical deficiencies. His inability to overcome these challenges has prevented him from fulfilling his potential and becoming the star that many had predicted.

Rohit Sharma's Form Slump Raises Concerns for Mumbai Indians and IndiaFormer India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has expressed concern over the alarming dip in form of Mumbai Indians' opener Rohit Sharma. Sharma's struggles have extended beyond the IPL franchise, casting a shadow over India's preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup.In the recent match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Sharma's woes continued as he was dismissed for a mere four runs off five deliveries. This dismal performance followed a string of low scores since his century against Chennai Super Kings on April 14th. Sharma's subsequent scores of 6, 8, 4, 11, and 4 have raised serious concerns about his form."There is a massive difference between Rohit Sharma's first six matches and last five matches. He is going in single digits in the last five matches and that is a real worry," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.Sharma's struggles are particularly concerning given his importance to both Mumbai Indians and the Indian team. As the captain of Mumbai Indians, his form is crucial for the franchise's success. For India, Sharma is a key player in the upcoming T20 World Cup, where his experience and leadership will be vital.Sharma's dismissal against SRH, where he attempted a big shot off Pat Cummins only to be caught behind, highlighted his difficulties in finding his rhythm and timing at the crease. Chopra emphasized that Sharma's form is essential for both Mumbai Indians and India, as his struggles could have significant implications for both teams.