Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh is really happy to see Abhishek Sharma grow as a cricketer and believes that the 24-year-old left-handed batter from Amritsar can do a Virender Sehwag sort of thing one day. Abhishek Sharma blazed a trail in the fifth T20I against England held in Mumbai on Sunday, February 2. He opened for the Men in Blue and struck 135 off just 54 deliveries, hitting 7 boundaries and 13 sixes. His batting record during the match, won by India by a 150-run margin, shattered the record of highest individual score for India in T20Is held previously by Shubman Gill and surpassed Rohit Sharma’s record of most sixes in an innings of a T20I match for Men in Blue.
Harbhajan, who was also Abhishek’s first domestic captain, was absolutely amazed by his performance in the fifth T20I and expressed his happiness over it.
“Well done, Abhishek. It was an enjoyable evening. I remember the day Abhishek first came to play for Punjab. He and Shubman (Gill) made their debuts under my captaincy vs Vadarbha in Delhi on February 25, 2017. Seeing them progress is a great feeling for me. I don’t think Abhishek was gonna hit that many. Unbelievable,” Singh said.
“Even now when I see him, for bowling first thing comes up. Batting is first love. He shall do it. He has hit 17 sixes as well. Kaise maar sakte ho, pure match mein nahi lagte hai. Abhishek Sharma, what are you eating?”
“A player like Virender Sehwag is what you need—someone who enters the game, takes command, and shifts its dynamics decisively. In the future, Abhishek Sharma could fulfill that role,” he remarked.
In the fifth T20I, besides showcasing his impressive batting skills, Abhishek also took two wickets in a single over. His outstanding all-round performance earned him the Player of the Match title.
