Former India batter turned commentator Cheteshwar Pujara has applauded Abhishek Sharma as a special talent with class, after the swashbuckling opener tore into the Delhi Capitals attack as well. Abhishek played a blistering knock of 135 off just 68 balls to help SRH post 242/2 and win the match by 47 runs.
“Abhishek Sharma played a brilliant knock to score his second IPL hundred and his first this season. He makes centuries look easy,” Pujara told JioHotstar. “His runs are crucial for SRH because they often lead to wins. He is a special talent. When he performs like this, his class is there for everyone to see. Very few batters have the talent and class that Abhishek Sharma has.”
Abhishek Sharma, the world No. 1 T20I batter, was in full form on Tuesday, smashing 10 sixes and as many fours as well. Abhishek also had the luck on his side, as a fumble behind the stumps by KL Rahul gave him a lifeline when he was batting on 50. And, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh believed that was the game’s turning point.
“That missed run-out was a defining moment. If Abhishek Sharma had been dismissed, the game could have looked very different. He went on to play a crucial innings and was the main reason behind that big total. When a team gets to 240-plus, it usually comes down to moments like these, and this was the one that shifted the game completely. He was well short, and a direct hit or a good throw could have changed everything,” further added Harbhajan.
“It is good to see that the top five bowlers in the ‘Purple Cap’ race are all Indians” – Harbhajan Singh
He also asked Indian bowlers to tighten their lines and sharpen their discipline to avoid being smashed in high-scoring games by the batters as well.
“The Indian bowlers have no choice but to evolve. If they don’t level up, they will get punished. T20 cricket spares no one. Batters keep adding new shots and if Indian bowlers don’t want to be taken apart, they must improve,” he said.
However, he praised Anshul Kamboj of the Chennai Super Kings, who has managed to do well so far.
“It is good to see that the top five bowlers in the ‘Purple Cap’ race are all Indians. Anshul Kamboj of Chennai Super Kings leads with 13 wickets. His bowling against Sunrisers Hyderabad was excellent. He used the round-the-wicket angle in the death overs to bowl to Heinrich Klaasen and did not let him free his arms. Young bowlers like Kamboj are showing a new way to bowl in modern T20 cricket,” he concluded.
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