Abhishek Sharma Fails to Fire in High-Scoring SMAT Thriller
India’s T20I opener Abhishek Sharma endured a difficult outing in the second round of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) on Friday, November 28. Known for dominating high-scoring contests, Abhishek could not make an impact for Punjab in their clash against Haryana, falling for just six runs and later failing again in the Super Over.
Punjab entered the game looking for a strong performance from the No.1 T20I batter, but Abhishek Sharma was dismissed early by bowler Anhsul Kamboj, triggering early panic in the Punjab batting order.The match witnessed a big total from Haryana, who made 207 runs, driven by Nishant Sindhu’s stunning 61 and a steady fifty from captain Ankit Kumar.
Even though Punjab got off to a rough start when opener Prabhsimran Singh was out for a quick 20 off 10 balls, Anmolpreet Singh brought the innings back to life with a scorching 81 off just 37 balls. Sanvir Singh added crucial late momentum with 30 off 16 balls.
Punjab came close to reaching the objective, but they only got one run off the last ball, which ended the match in a tie.
Super Over Misery for Abhishek Sharma
The responsibility once again fell on Abhishek Sharma during the Super Over, but his struggles continued as he was dismissed for a first-ball duck. Punjab could score only one run before Sanvir Singh also departed for zero, leaving Haryana with a simple chase. Nishant Sindhu sealed the result immediately with a boundary off the very first delivery.
Sanju Samson Also Falls Short as Kerala Suffer Defeat
While Abhishek Sharma had a forgettable outing for Punjab, India’s T20I wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson also faltered for Kerala in their match against Railways.
Samson, who began the SMAT campaign strongly with a fifty against Odisha, could not extend his form in this game. Chasing Railways’ total of 149 for seven, Kerala made a slow start and lost wickets steadily. After the early dismissal of Rohan Kunnummal and Ahammed Imran, Samson fell soon after, scoring just 19 runs off 25 balls before being removed by veteran spinner Karn Sharma.
Kerala’s inability to build momentum in the chase ultimately cost them the match, handing Railways a crucial victory.
Abhishek Sharma’s Recent Form Raises Questions Ahead of South Africa Series
Both Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are essential members of India’s T20I setup and strong contenders for the forthcoming series against South Africa.However, their poor performances in this round of SMAT reveal a drop at a vital time.
While Samson had opened the league promisingly, Abhishek Sharma is yet to find his stride this season, with setbacks against both Himachal Pradesh and Haryana in back-to-back games.
Despite the defeats, both players remain key to India’s T20 aspirations, and subsequent matches will be crucial as they attempt to regain form and momentum.
Key Highlights
Abhishek Sharma dismissed for six against Haryana
Fell for a first-ball duck in the Super Over
Punjab tied the match but collapsed in the decider
Sanju Samson scored 19 off 25 balls as Kerala lost to Railways
Haryana’s Nishant Sindhu starred with 61 and match-winning Super Over boundary