Abhishek Sharma’s Melbourne Miss: Irfan Pathan Questions Game Awareness After India’s T20 Defeat

Abhishek Sharma’s valiant knock in the second T20I against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground stood out in an otherwise disappointing performance for Team India. Despite being the lone warrior with a fighting 68 off 37 deliveries, his efforts could not save India from a heavy defeat. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has now raised concerns about Abhishek’s game awareness, emphasizing that talent alone cannot make up for tactical shortcomings.

Abhishek’s innings, which marked his maiden international fifty on Australian soil, was a bright spark in India’s modest total of 125 runs. However, according to Pathan, the left-hander faltered in managing the strike effectively during his partnership with lower-order batter Harshit Rana. The duo added valuable runs to steady India after an early collapse, but Pathan noted that Abhishek allowed too many deliveries to be faced by Rana, who struggled initially to find rhythm.

“Abhishek Sharma looked in complete control during the powerplay and showed excellent shot selection early on. But after the field restrictions lifted, he failed to maintain the same tempo or take enough responsibility,” said Pathan. He highlighted that while Abhishek faced only 14 balls during a 47-ball stand, Rana faced 33 — a distribution that, according to Pathan, reflected a lack of game awareness from India’s top T20 prospect.

The statistics supported Pathan’s critique. Harshit Rana, coming in at a critical juncture, scored 35 runs off 33 balls, stabilizing the innings but consuming valuable deliveries. In contrast, Abhishek, who started aggressively, seemed to lose momentum as the innings progressed. Pathan stressed that a senior batter in such a position should shield the tail-enders and maximize scoring opportunities, especially when wickets are falling regularly.

Australia’s pace attack, led by Josh Hazlewood, exposed India’s frail batting lineup. Hazlewood’s fiery spell of 3 for 13 dismantled India’s top order, including vice-captain Shubman Gill, who struggled to adapt to the bounce and movement. Despite Abhishek’s resistance, India’s total of 125 was insufficient against a confident Australian side.

In response, Australia chased down the target with ease in just 13.2 overs. Captain Mitchell Marsh’s brisk 46 off 26 deliveries ensured that the hosts dominated the game from start to finish. The four-wicket victory handed Australia a comfortable lead in the series and left India searching for answers in their T20 approach.

While many fans praised Abhishek Sharma’s resilience and stroke play, Pathan’s comments underscore a crucial area of improvement for the young batter — the need to balance aggression with strategic awareness. As India prepares for the remaining matches, Abhishek’s ability to learn from this experience could determine his consistency at the international level.

In Melbourne, India’s batting collapse was not just a result of Australian brilliance but also of missed tactical opportunities — a lesson the team will need to absorb before heading into the next contest.