Even if Abhishek Sharma is 80 percent fit, he can dominate any team: Piyush Chawla

Former Indian spinner Piyush Chawla has stated that the Indian opening batter Abhishek Sharma should get into the playing XI even if he is 80 percent fit for the marquee clash against Pakistan.

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Notably, India and Pakistan are scheduled to take on each other in their group stage clash in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on Sunday, February 15, in Colombo. Speaking exclusively on JioStar, Chawla asserted that Sharma virtually finishes the game 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 told 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.

Furthermore, Chawla has also opened up on the changes India should make in their playing XI, adding that he would love to bring in Kuldeep Yadav, replacing Arshdeep Singh as the Colombo surface is expected to assist spinners. However, he is against the idea of having Washington Sundar in Rinku Singh’s place.

"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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