"Kapil Dev's Vote of Confidence: Backs Abhishek Sharma for Success in IND vs NZ T20 World Cup Final"

Abhishek Sharma Faces Criticism Following T20 World Cup Struggles

Indian cricketer Abhishek Sharma has had a tough T20 World Cup campaign, with just one notable half-century against Zimbabwe overshadowed by a string of three consecutive ducks in the initial matches of the tournament. The pressure is mounting as calls for his exclusion from the playing XI are growing ahead of India's final clash against New Zealand on Sunday.

Despite the setbacks, the 25-year-old all-rounder has found support from former World Cup-wiing captain Kapil Dev, who believes in Abhishek's abilities and advocates for his retention in the team for the crucial showdown against the Kiwis in Ahmedabad. "Just believe in your team and the management should believe in the player. And Abhishek should believe in himself that ‘I can perform and I will perform’. Still, one game is there – the final," expressed Kapil.

In the recent semifinal match against England, Abhishek managed only 9 runs, but India emerged victorious by a slim margin of seven runs, defending a massive total of 253. A stellar performance by Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks almost led England to a remarkable comeback, but India's disciplined bowling sealed the win, with special mention to Jasprit Bumrah's nerve-wracking spell in the 18th over.

Reflecting on the match, Kapil lauded Bumrah as the world's premier bowler for his ability to deliver under pressure, while also commending Sanju Samson for his exceptional 89-run knock that played a pivotal role in setting up India's imposing total. "Bumrah is the Number one bowler in the world. He deserves all the respect from everybody. And Sanju really played wonderful cricket in the last two games," he remarked.

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