Overview:
He pointed out that Sharma’s aggressive style allows him to score quickly, even in short innings, making him a key player for India's victories.
Abhishek Sharma has earned high praise from former India batter Mohammed Kaif, with the in-form opener now being linked to T20 icon Chris Gayle. Kaif made these remarks after Abhishek’s dominant display against New Zealand in the third T20I, reigniting conversations about the youngster’s standing among the best power-hitters in the game.
Abhishek Sharma has been in phenomenal touch in the ongoing T20I series, accumulating 152 runs in just four matches, placing him as the second-highest run-scorer. With an average of 50.66 and a remarkable strike rate of 266.66, his numbers showcase both his aggressive style and consistency in dominating bowlers. Kaif shared his thoughts, explaining why Abhishek’s playing style makes him unique among attacking openers.
“Players who play like him are typically not very consistent. I’ve seen several big-name players who have a similar style, like Chris Gayle, who always went for the big shots,” Kaif said.
“But even Chris Gayle played with intelligence. He would often take the first over carefully, especially on pitches like Bangalore, where there was early assistance, before shifting gears,” Kaif explained.
Mohammad Kaif praised Abhishek Sharma for his ability to perform consistently and impact matches. He pointed out that Sharma’s aggressive style allows him to score quickly, even in short innings, making him a key player for India’s victories.
“Abhishek Sharma has gone beyond that. He doesn’t take time to settle in, he attacks right from the start. You can’t praise him enough,” Kaif added.
“Batters with this style are often inconsistent, one good innings followed by a few failures. But look at Abhishek’s approach. He proves himself in every game. Even if he faces only 12-14 balls, he scores 60-70 runs. That’s what makes him a match-winner. If Abhishek Sharma is on form, India is almost guaranteed to win,” Kaif mentioned.