Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth opined that Abhishek Sharma shouldn’t have played in the first T20I against Afghanistan. Sharma returned with a string of low scores in the three T20Is against Zimbabwe, managing a total of 11 runs in the series.

However, the left-hander scored a fine knock of 82 runs off 32 balls with the help of seven fours and as many sixes in the run-chase of 157 against Afghanistan on Sunday. 

The southpaw had managed only 40 runs in six games before the series but he was able to turn the tables against Afghanistan. Abhishek opened with Sanju Samson whereas Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was left out of the playing XI in the series opener.

Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “Abhishek Sharma actually shouldn’t have played this game on form. But he smashed Afghanistan yesterday and batted brilliantly. Though he didn’t score in the previous six innings, everyone will remember only this 82 and forget the rest.”

On the other hand, Ishan Kishan continued his rich form, scoring 42 runs off 33 balls. Recently, Kishan scored a magnum opus knock of 270 runs in the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone and played a key role in leading his team to triumph. Srikkanth said Kishan is a strong contender for the Test team.

“He (Kishan) has been unbelievable, coming from domestic cricket. He is smashing a 270 in the Duleep Trophy final, which is brilliant. Now he is surely a strong contender for the Test team. He is scoring so much that he has to be in the reckoning for the Indian Test squad. He is scoring in every format and has to be in the mix of things in Test cricket,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).

Kishan has performed consistently across all formats and would look to carry his rich form.

The second T20I between India and Afghanistan will be played on Tuesday in Delhi.