India, March 4 -- India's semi-final build-up against England has produced the usual pre-knockout obsession: find the weak link, zoom in, and make it the story. This time, the easiest target is Abhishek Sharma. Three ducks in a tournament and a run of low scores will always drag the conversation in that direction.

But this is exactly where knockout analysis can go wrong. Abhishek's form is a talking point; it is not the defining verdict of India's chances. More importantly, his numbers need to be read through the lens of what he is this side, not what people suddenly want him to become.

There is no value in pretending his returns have been good. They have not. The scoreline looks harsh, and the sequence makes it look harsher.

But Abhis...