Former Indian batter Ajay Jadeja showered praise on Abhishek Sharma after India’s comprehensive nine-wicket win against the UAE in the Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Wednesday. Chasing a mere target of 58 runs, Sharma scored a blistering knock of 30 runs off just 16 balls.
The left-hander smashed the first ball he faced for a six and kept playing with an aggressive approach. The southpaw scored two fours and three sixes in his whirlwind knock as he scored his runs at a strike rate of 187.50.
Abhishek is the number one T20I batter in the ICC rankings and once again he was able to prove his mettle.
“He hits like he is slapping someone. People might be thinking that the Indian batting might be about to start now, but they have finished the match in 4.3 overs, and this was the first ball. He does not show any dignity,” Ajay Jadeja said on Sony Sports.
“He has his own style. The entire world hits on the on-side when they hit fours and sixes. It’s not that he doesn’t hit on the on-side, but he favors the off-side. All coaches teach you to bowl on or outside the off-stump, and he plays the fastest there,” Jadeja observed.
Meanwhile, Abhishek opened the innings with a new partner in Shubman Gill. The duo have played together for Punjab in the domestic circuit and have risen through the ranks.
“I was thinking about these two friends. While growing up, you are a hooligan in your city when you are playing for your club, you beat a school team like that, and they have done that at the international level, even if it’s the UAE. They have been able to live that dream, that they would finish games like this when they would bat together for India,” he said.
“I am sure both of them would have dreamt about this. Both of them have grown up together. I think they will play a lot of cricket, but this match will definitely be memorable for them, as they chased down the score before the powerplay got over,” Jadeja reasoned.
Gill scored 20 runs off nine balls and he would look to continue the good form. India will next take on arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Sunday.
