Former Indian batter Ajay Jadeja lavished praise on Abhishek Sharma after the first T20I between India and England was abandoned due to rain. Sharma scored a blistering knock of 59 runs off just 24 balls with the help of six fours and four sixes and played a key role in helping India post 189 runs on the board.
The left-hander was able to hit the ground running and scored his runs at a whirlwind strike rate of 245.83. Jadeja is Abhishek is India’s old Boss Baby after he played a crucial knock.
Abhishek had also scored 49 runs off 20 balls in the opening T20I against Ireland.
“We were talking about the Boss Baby. He is our old Boss Baby. Since the time he came, he has maintained the same approach. The good thing is that the approach hasn’t changed at all. In his batting, it doesn’t even seem like he is applying force to hit fours and sixes. The flow is so good,” Ajay Jadeja said on Sony Sports.
The former Indian skipper said highlighted that Abhishek plays his shots all around the ground.
“Attacking players generally play in one direction. Someone plays very well on the off side, and someone plays very well on the on side. His striking ability is from deep point to fine leg. So it becomes so difficult for the bowlers, and his success is probably because of that,” Jadeja observed.
Jadeja noted that Abhishek never struggles when he gets going in the middle.
“Anyone can get out for zero, but when he scores runs, he never struggles or is unable to play shots. There might have been an odd day. Whenever he plays, he plays with a flow. He has hit 100 sixes in 40-odd matches, and he has seven ducks in that,” he said.
“If we reduce that, you have hit 100 sixes in 35-odd innings, which means he has hit an average of nearly three sixes per innings. Very few players would have that. He hit a six after two guys had gotten out, and you had come after losing two matches. It’s not like he hits a particular bowler. He hits whoever is bowling,” Jadeja observed.
Abhishek completed 100 sixes in T20I cricket off 785 balls, becoming the fastest batter to reach the milestone.
The second T20I between India and England will be played at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday.
