Why is Ashok Sharma not playing 2nd ZIM vs IND T20I?

Yash Thakur replaces Ashok Sharma in India’s playing XI against Zimbabwe.

The Indian Cricket Team are currently playing against Zimbabwe in the second T20I of the series at the Harare Sports Club, Harare. The team dominated the hosts in the first game, winning the match by seven wickets, with Mayank Yadav being named Player of the Match for his brilliant spell of 2 wickets for 18 runs.

The young emerging star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored his maiden international half-century, smashing 50 runs off just 19 balls. Heading into the second match, the India are looking to seal the series with another dominant performance. Most of the lineup remains the same as in the last game, with just one change.

Yash Thakur has been brought in place of Ashok Sharma. Ashok Sharma, who was handed his debut cap in the first game against Zimbabwe, bowled his full quota of four overs, conceding 29 runs without taking a wicket.

He has been dropped for the second match of the series, with Yash Thakur replacing him. Let’s understand why Ashok Sharma was not given a longer run and was dropped ahead of the second game.

Why did Ashok Sharma miss second ZIM vs IND T20I?

The main reason behind the inclusion of Yash Thakur ahead of Ashok Sharma for the second T20I could probably be the team management’s intention to test another young pacer. Thakur, who represents Vidarbha in domestic cricket and Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League, is making his international debut.

With the T20 World Cup still two years away, the team management are trying out every pacer so that they can narrow down the group of fast bowlers who will travel to Australia for the World Cup.

Another reason might be Ashok Sharma’s performance in the first T20I. While Ashok is a pace bowler who generates high speeds, he has often been criticised for his line and length. In the first T20I against Zimbabwe, Sharma conceded 29 runs and failed to take a wicket, while every other bowler picked up at least one wicket.

Even though it was his first international match, the pool of talented Indian cricketers is so large that some players do not get repeated opportunities

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