Former India keeper Dinesh Karthik was on hand to watch the demolition job and he believes the left-hand, right-hand opening partnership between Abhishek and Samson should be continued for the winner-take-all contest with the West Indies in Kolkata on Sunday.
“India haven’t been getting those opening starts, So when someone like Sanju and Abhishek open together, it’s a lot of pressure having a right-left combination,” Karthik told ICC Digital after the match.
“They (Zimbabwe) in fact didn’t bowl off-spin because probably Sanju was there. Otherwise, Sikander Raza is known to take the new ball.
“The fact that he didn’t tells you that they were worried that the right-hander was there, so the matchup is working in favour of India.
“Sanju got going soon after Abhishek absolutely smashed it, and that’s something that we are so used to seeing.
“And I think at times we take it for granted what he’s doing is special and it’s hard to be consistent, which he was.
“Yes, a bit of a blip at the start of the World Cup, but when he comes good, India is always cruising to a fantastic scope.”
