Nagpur, Jan 21 (NationPress) Abhishek Sharma, the talented left-handed opener for India, expressed that his batting philosophy revolves around maintaining an aggressive cricketing style after he scored a brilliant match-winning 84 against New Zealand in the opening T20I at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur on Wednesday.

"I haven't particularly noticed, but he was discussing it. However, it's about the principles we've adhered to since Day One; we had a strategy to play this type of cricket, and that is exactly what we are executing," he stated after receiving the Player of the Match accolade.

Regarding his proficiency in hitting sixes, Abhishek highlighted the significance of practice and timing, which have contributed to his consistency. "One thing I've learned is that to hit well, and to play with a strike rate of around 200, you must possess that intent and invest substantial time in practice.

“You see, all these teams have a game plan for me. Until now, it’s not just about fielding; it’s also about the bowling and the pitch conditions. My preparation throughout the week has been vital, especially knowing these bowlers would challenge me. I trust my instincts, having practiced extensively beforehand," he added.

When questioned if his gameplay was high-risk, Abhishek responded, "I don’t perceive it as high risk. For me, it feels like my - I wouldn’t label it as my comfort zone, but I’ve always aimed to bat aggressively during the initial overs since they provide you with the most opportunities to score in the first six overs. This has been my focus in practice as well.

“If you observe, all the primary bowlers from various teams generally bowl during the first few overs. If I can score effectively in the initial overs, it gives us a strong advantage."

He emphasized that timing, rather than sheer power, is the key to his T20 performance. "I don’t consider myself exceptionally strong, so I rely more on timing than on power to clear the boundaries.

“As we travel across India, I need to swiftly adapt to different pitch conditions. Hence, I plan a day ahead, perhaps scheduling a net session to prepare for the bowlers I will face," he remarked.

On deciding which deliveries to target, Abhishek stated, "By reviewing videos of my batting, I can predict where the bowlers might pitch the ball or how I can play my shots. Ultimately, it's about backing my shots, as I have a limited range of them. I focus on a few shots and practice them diligently for effective execution."

He also discussed his slip fielding duties. "Naturally, Shubman was the first choice, but I genuinely enjoy fielding in slips and have been diligently working with Dilip Sir, who is the mastermind behind our fielding efforts, so he deserves the credit."

Rinku Singh, who scored an impressive unbeaten 44 on his return to the team, shared his strategy to remain at the crease until the end. “I felt pressure due to my on-and-off presence in the team. The plan was to take singles and then accelerate while ensuring to stay till the end. That’s precisely what I accomplished. GG Sir advised me to maintain my intent.

“While batting with Arshdeep Paaji, we planned to hit boundaries when the balls were in our range. I simply advised him to remain calm during dot balls and aim for singles to rotate the strike. It happens sometimes.

Asked about the dropped catch of Mark Chapman, Rinku said, “There were no issues with the lights; I just dropped one, and there isn’t much to worry about. We aim to carry this confidence and momentum into the World Cup and secure the victory.”