Michael Vaughan has expressed strong support for Abhishek Sharma, believing that he has the potential to excel for India in all three cricket formats, similar to Yashasvi Jaiswal. Abhishek debuted in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2018 and has intermittently showcased his talent. This year, however, he has been particularly impressive in the IPL, drawing significant praise from fans and experts.
At 23, the Punjab all-rounder has scored 467 runs in 13 matches, averaging 38.92 with an exceptional strike rate of 209.42 in the 2024 IPL season. On May 19, Abhishek played a crucial role in helping the Sunrisers secure a second-place finish in the league stage by scoring 66 runs off 28 balls, aiding in a successful chase of a 215-run target against the Punjab Kings.
Vaughan, the former England captain, suggested that Abhishek could follow in Yashasvi’s footsteps, making a seamless transition from the IPL to international cricket. He praised Abhishek’s technical proficiency, likening his batting swing to legends like Brian Lara and Yuvraj Singh.
“Yashasvi has been a wonderful story” – Michael Vaughan
During his remarkable innings against Punjab, Abhishek hit six sixes, surpassing Virat Kohli’s record for the most sixes in a single IPL season. He currently holds 41 sixes in the 2024 IPL. Vaughan was highly impressed with Abhishek’s record-breaking achievements and lauded his performance.
Vaughan said: “If you go back to the story of Yashasvi Jaiswal, he jumped the rails quickly through the IPL and the Indian side. Been a revelation in Test match cricket. Probably early to say this, but Abhishek could do exactly the same. He could easily do the same across all three formats. His technical side is excellent. He has got Brian Lara-esque and Yuvraj Singh-type swing of the willow.”
“Yashasvi has been a wonderful story, you don’t see many like that. Just arrive on the international stage and look like they have been playing for 15 years. But I think Abhishek isn’t far off. When you think about how much talent has and how many great Indian batters are there in the IPL and he is top of the tree. Fantastic.”
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
