Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra showered praise on Abhishek Sharma after the hosts registered a gargantuan win of 150 runs at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday. India also took the series by 4-1 as they came up with a collective effort.
Sharma scored a magnum opus knock of 135 runs off just 54 balls as he batted at the top of his game. The left-hander smashed seven fours and 13 sixes in his blistering knock as he batted at his absolute best.
The southpaw scored his runs at a strike rate of 250 after bringing his hundred off just 37 balls, the second fastest for India after Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball hundred. This was the second century for Sharma in T20Is as he continues to impress in the shortest format of the game.
“Mumbai city has a story. This city launches superstars. You see either zeroes or heroes here, and the hero sometimes becomes a superhero, and how well he (Abhishek) played. This city likes Sharma ji a lot in any case and Sharma ji likes this city a lot,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“That was Rohit Sharma, and Rohit Sharma has the record of the fastest T20I century (by an Indian) and our brother (Abhishek) has the second-fastest. He is following in Rohit’s footsteps. If you are a Sharma and you open for Team India, and you strike the ball well, your future is very bright. It seems like that and we saw the proof of that here,” Chopra added.
The reputed commentator highlighted that Sharma was lacking consistent after scoring a century in the second game against Zimbabwe. Chopra hailed the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel for backing the youngster.
“He had struck a century in just his second T20I match, but after that, that consistency wasn’t there. You need to praise the selectors as well that they selected him because we were also saying why you aren’t selecting Yashasvi as he is in red-hot form,” he said.
“However, they said they would remain with Abhishek, he plays high-risk cricket, but this is what they want. He was getting stuck on bouncers earlier but that’s no longer the case. If you bowl at 150 kph, he hits at 175 kph. He makes room, opens his arms, and hits on the off-side. Some shots were breathtaking,” Chopra elaborated.
The first ODI between India and England will be played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur on Thursday.
