Abhishek Sharma’s sensational knock in the fifth T20I against England at the Wankhede Stadium has made headlines, but former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh believes the youngster should also pay attention to his bowling. Apart from smashing a record-breaking 135 off 54 balls, Abhishek also claimed two wickets in India’s commanding 150-run victory.
Harbhajan Sees Potential in Abhishek’s Bowling
Harbhajan, who captained Abhishek during his early days in the Ranji Trophy, praised the 24-year-old’s batting heroics but emphasized the need for him to work harder on his bowling. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan stated that Abhishek possesses all the attributes required to be a quality leg-spinner but does not dedicate as much effort to his bowling as he does to batting.
“I have been telling him from the beginning that his seam position is excellent. But he doesn’t work as much on his bowling. Even now, whenever I meet him, I remind him about it because his first love is batting, and he will always focus on that. But he can develop his bowling further as he has all the qualities to be a good leg-spinner,” Harbhajan said.
Record-Breaking Knock at Wankhede
Abhishek’s explosive innings included seven fours and an astonishing 35 sixes, setting a new record for the highest individual score by an Indian in T20Is. He also shattered the record for the most sixes hit by an Indian in a single T20I match. Harbhajan admitted that while he had always recognized Abhishek’s potential since his Under-19 days, he never expected such a breathtaking performance at the international level.
Future Test Success on the Cards?
Despite Abhishek’s modest first-class average of 30.60 in 24 matches, Harbhajan is confident that the young batter has the ability to succeed in Test cricket. He compared Abhishek to aggressive players like Travis Head, Virender Sehwag, and Viv Richards, who dominated bowlers with their attacking mindset.
“On his day, he can completely change the course of a game. Players like Travis Head, Sehwag, and Viv Richards had the ability to take the game forward in an instant. Test cricket always needs a player in the Sehwag mould—someone who can come in, attack, and take control of the match. Abhishek Sharma has that potential, and sooner or later, his opportunity in Test cricket will come,” Harbhajan added.
With his recent T20I heroics and growing reputation, Abhishek Sharma has certainly caught the attention of cricketing legends. If he continues to develop his skills in both batting and bowling, he could become a valuable all-round asset for Indian cricket in the years to come.
