IND vs SL: Abhishek Sharma Loses India Squad Despite Scoring Century In Debut T20I Series

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In a surprising twist, Punjab allrounder Abhishek Sharma finds himself sidelined as the BCCI on Thursday (July 18) announced India's 15-member squad for the T20I series against Sri Lanka.

Despite a noteworthy performance in Zimbabwe, where he blasted a scintillating 47-ball century in only his second T20I, Sharma’s name is conspicuously absent from the lineup.

The return of seasoned players like Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammad Siraj has shuffled the deck, leaving Sharma out of the picture for now. Sharma's journey in Zimbabwe was a rollercoaster.

After a forgettable debut duck, he stormed back with a vengeance, hammering the Zimbabwe bowlers to all corners of the ground. His 100-run knock, peppered with seven fours and eight towering sixes, showcased his explosive potential at the top of the order.

However, with Yashasvi Jaiswal reclaiming his spot as opener from the third match onwards, Sharma was pushed to the number three slot, managing scores of 10 and 14 in the subsequent games. He wrapped up the series with a respectable 124 runs at an average of 31.00 and an impressive strike rate of 174.64.

Sharma’s omission is puzzling, especially after a standout IPL 2024 season with Sunrisers Hyderabad. He finished as the 10th-highest run-scorer, amassing 484 runs in 16 innings at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 204.21. His dynamic performances raised expectations for a more permanent role in the national squad.

Yet, the selectors opted for experience and depth in the middle order, retaining Riyan Parag and Sanju Samson while welcoming back the rested Rishabh Pant. With Shubman Gill and Jaiswal cemented as openers, Sharma's potential role as a backup was overlooked.

India’s T20I Squad for Sri Lanka Tour: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd. Siraj.