Abhishek Sharma credits three cricketers for his success

Abhishek Sharma showcased remarkable batting skills in the first T20I between India and England on Wednesday in Kolkata. The SRH standout scored an impressive 79 runs off just 34 balls, leading India to a comfortable 133/3 in 12.5 overs while chasing a target of 132. The chase was relatively low-scoring, with Tilak Varma (19) and Hardik Pandya (6) remaining not out.

Earlier, Jos Buttler contributed significantly for England with a solid half-century, scoring 68 runs as the team set a total of 132 in 20 overs. Varun Chakravarthy was the star for India with the ball, claiming three wickets.

Post-match, Abhishek drew attention for his performance and expressed his gratitude towards several legendary players who have influenced his career. The 24-year-old feels fortunate to have received guidance from cricketing greats as he progressed, particularly during his time at SRH. “I consider myself very lucky in this regard,” he remarked.

“I initially worked with Yuvi paaji [Yuvraj Singh], and then I had the opportunity to learn from Brian Lara, who provided great support during my time at SRH. Moving forward, Dan Vettori’s approach was straightforward; he encouraged everyone to express themselves freely, which allowed me to play my shots without hesitation. It’s clear that with mentors like Yuvraj Singh, Brian Lara, and currently Gauti bhai, they all want me to demonstrate my skills authentically and to have confidence in my game”.

The Punjab native has captured the attention of Indian cricket fans following his impressive performances in IPL 2024. He is being considered a potential successor to seasoned players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and has drawn comparisons to the legendary Virender Sehwag. Additionally, he shares a close friendship with Yuvraj Singh, whom he regards as a mentor.

He made his debut for India in June of last year against Zimbabwe in Harare. Since then, he has played 13 T20Is, accumulating 335 runs with a striking rate of 183.06 and an average of 27.92. Throughout his brief international career, he has also scored a century. India is gearing up to take on England in the second T20I in Chennai on Saturday.

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