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Andy Flower reckons Abhishek Sharma hasn't yet cemented his place as India's T20I opener despite scoring a belligerent century in the second T20I against Zimbabwe. He pointed out that Yashasvi Jaiswal will be back in the mix for the remaining three games of the five-match series.
Abhishek smashed 100 runs off 47 deliveries as the Men in Blue set the Chevrons a mammoth 235-run target in Harare on Sunday, July 7. The visitors then bundled Sikandar Raza and company out for 134 to register a comprehensive 100-run win and draw level in the series.
Reviewing the game on Sony Sports, Flower was asked whether Abhishek Sharma's century implies that he has cemented his place as India's opener in the shortest format.
"Well, we have got Jaiswal still coming into the series, haven't we? So that sort of competition is exactly what the Indian selectors and all the Indian followers are looking for. It makes it really interesting and it's great for the Indian game if they have got lots of options like that," he responded.
However, the former Zimbabwe captain acknowledged that a glorious start to his international career will hold the youngster in good stead.
"He should be confident at the moment coming off such a great IPL and then getting a hundred in his second international match. So what a great start. It's really important to get those runs as a young player because confidence and self-belief are so important to your chance of doing well. So I am very happy for him and I am looking forward to seeing more of him in this series," Flower elaborated.
Jaiswal missed the first two T20Is against Zimbabwe as he returned home to celebrate India's 2024 T20 World Cup win. However, the left-handed opener, along with Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube, should be available for selection for the final three T20Is.
"I am so glad he didn't tinker around with his game" - Abhinav Mukund lauds Abhishek Sharma
![Abhishek Sharma struck seven fours and eight sixes in his century. [P/C: BCCI/X]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/5e2b1-17204093937042-1920.jpg)
In the same discussion, Abhinav Mukund praised Abhishek Sharma for sticking to his tried-and-tested approach when asked about the 23-year-old starting slightly slowly before pressing the accelerator.
"That's exactly what you expect from him. I am so glad he didn't tinker around with his game. He didn't try and do anything different from what he does at the domestic level," he said.
The former India batter appreciated the SunRisers Hyderabad opener for replicating his IPL performances at the international level.
"I know the IPL is a very, very good and a high-standard league but international cricket is a different ball game altogether. He has come here and has done the same thing that we have seen back home time and again, and he has got a hundred to boot in international cricket," Mukund observed.
Abhishek added 137 runs for the second wicket with Ruturaj Gaikwad (77* off 47) after Shubman Gill was dismissed cheaply. Gaikwad and Rinku Singh (48* off 22) then stitched together an unbroken 87-run third-wicket partnership to take India to a massive total.
