India faces a potential setback as star opener Abhishek Sharma is doubtful for the 2nd T20I against England on Saturday in Chennai. According to Indian express report, an injury concern looms over the team, as Abhishek twisted his right ankle during a practice session.
The Punjab-born batter, who scored a brilliant 79 runs in the previous match, was in severe pain after the injury. Although he received medical attention from physios and later walked down the nets, but didn't came to bat in the nets. His availability for the match remains uncertain, raising questions about his replacement.
After a commanding 7-wicket win in Kolkata, India is looking to carry their momentum forward.
Who could replace Abhishek Sharma?
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If Abhishek is ruled out, either Dhruv Jurel or Tilak Varma could step in. Tilak is in sensational form, having scored three consecutive centuries a historic achievement to become first ever batter to do so. He could be a strong candidate to open with Sanju Samson. Meanwhile, Dhruv Jurel, despite his strong performances in recent warm-up matches in Australia, but haven't played any T20 match since then.
Will Mohammed Shami play?
Local hero Mohammed Shami, who made a comeback to the Indian team after a year, did not feature in the first T20I due to team combination preferences. According to Indian Express report Shami was bowling with great intensity in the nets at Chennai. While the XI is expected to remain largely unchanged, Shami’s inclusion could be a possibility depending on the team’s strategy.
The only likely change will depend on Abhishek Sharma’s fitness. If he is unavailable, India will need to adjust their lineup accordingly.
