Abhishek Sharma can dominate any team even if he is 80 percent fit: Former Indian spinner

Former Indian cricketer Piyush Chawla has asserted that the Indian dashing opening batter Abhishek Sharma should make it to the playing XI even if he is 80 percent fit for the much-awaited clash against Pakistan.

For the unversed, India and Pakistan are scheduled to take on each other in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on Sunday, February 15, in Colombo. Speaking exclusively on JioStar, Chawla stated that Abhishek has the capability of shutting down doors on the opposition in the powerplay overs.

"Even if he (Abhishek Sharma) is 80 percent fit, he can dominate any team. The biggest thing is that if Abhishek Sharma plays the first six overs, he virtually finishes the game. So I would want to see him play even if he is 80 percent fit," Piyush Chawla said on JioStar.

"You need to have your match-winning player in such games, and he plays the spinners exceptionally well. When Abhishek Sharma came, he was decent in the initial one or two years, but the way he has gathered rhythm, as a spinner, I feel it's not that easy to get this batter out," he added.

Additionally, Chawla asserted that he would love to bring in Kuldeep Yadav for Arshdeep Singh, but he doesn’t want to disturb the Indian batting line-up for bringing in Washington Sundar to the XI.

"If I am asked personally, I would like to bring in Kuldeep because it's extremely necessary to pick up wickets in the middle overs as the game will be made or spoiled there. He can come in place of Arshdeep only because you cannot reduce your batting depth as well," he observed.

"Rinku hasn't gotten much opportunities thus far, but he is a player who bats very well against the spinners. There were many discussions about adding an extra spinner in place of Rinku as Washington Sundar can bat as well, but you need a proper batter in such conditions. So I feel a spinner will come in place of Arshdeep, and personally, I feel Kuldeep, but what the team management thinks is a wait-and-watch game," he concluded.

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