Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has showered praise on Abhishek Sharma’s aggressive batting display in the ongoing Asia Cup. Chopra has wondered whether Sharma is the best T20 batter in the world. Sharma is currently the number one T20I batter in the ICC rankings.
The left-hander has given explosive starts to the team since making his T20I debut. In the last game against Pakistan, the southpaw scored a blistering knock of 31 runs off just 13 balls in the run chase of 128. Furthermore, Sharma scored a whirlwind knock of 30 runs off 16 balls in the team’s opening match of the tournament against the UAE.
Meanwhile, the youngster had danced down the track against Shaheen Shah Afridi on the first ball to score a boundary and then smashed the pacer for a six on the second ball, making his intentions clear from the get-go.
“He jumped down the pitch and hit Shaheen Shah Afridi on the first ball. After that, he hit him again, and then hit another terrific six. He thrashed Afridi. The guy’s name is Abhishek Sharma. Since he started playing, he has been a revelation. He bats explosively, but is he the best T20 opener in the world?” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“He hasn’t played for long, has scored 30-odd runs in the last two matches, but when he scores, he jolts everyone. He makes the match one-sided in a jiffy. Whether he is chasing 50 or 200, or batting first, he bats in the same fashion, and he is absolutely stellar,” he observed.
Sharma has scored 596 runs in 19 T20I matches at an average of 33.11 and a blistering strike rate of 195.41. Chopra noted that the left-hander has incredible numbers at the International stage.
“Stats are incredible. Hold your breath, he has a strike rate of (nearly) 200. He has hit two centuries, one of which came against England, and two half-centuries. He is incredible. He has scored consistently at a strike rate of 200, and we are not talking about weak teams. He has played some decent opposition and his playing style hasn’t changed against them,” he said.
India will next take on Oman at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Friday.
