'His name will be remembered' - Cheteshwar Pujara makes big statement on Abhishek Sharma, compares him to Chris Gayle
Cheteshwar Pujara praised Abhishek Sharma's T20I performance after the batter reached 2,000 runs in record time.
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Abhishek Sharma became the sixth Indian to reach 2,000 T20I runs during the third T20I against West Indies in Indore on Sunday, October 11. The milestone came at Holkar Stadium, where Abhishek scored 69 in 30 balls, striking at 230.00 with six fours and five sixes. India won the match and took a 2-1 series lead after scoring 223, with West Indies replying with 209 for 7. The rapid accumulation of runs underscores the aggressive approach Abhishek has brought to India's T20I setup since making his debut on July 6, 2024 against Zimbabwe.
Cheteshwar Pujara, the former India Test batter, assessed Abhishek's performance and trajectory in the shortest format. Pujara highlighted the exceptional speed at which Abhishek has accumulated runs and his standing among India's T20 players. According to Social News XYZ, Pujara offered his detailed perspective on the young batter's abilities and maturity.
"Nobody thought that he would cross such a big milestone so quickly. But the way Abhishek has performed, I think he is probably one of the best T20 players the Indian team has had so far," Pujara said on JioStar.
Pujara's assessment of Abhishek's T20 ability
Abhishek reached the 2,000-run milestone in 1,024 balls, surpassing Suryakumar Yadav's previous record of 1,164 deliveries. This achievement demonstrates the consistency and aggression Abhishek has maintained throughout his T20I career. Pujara drew a comparison to one of the format's greatest exponents to illustrate the calibre of Abhishek's batting ability.
"His name will be remembered for a long time. When we talk about the T20 format, we immediately think of Chris Gayle from the West Indies. Abhishek has that kind of ability. The way he showed maturity, especially in Indore, by taking a little time, even though five-six balls is a lot of time for him, shows that he is understanding his game a little better, recognising the opposition’s strengths, and batting accordingly. Now, in Hyderabad, he has played a lot on that ground, and that experience and familiarity matter, even in T20s," Pujara continued.
Abhishek's performance in Indore exemplified the balance between aggression and tactical awareness that Pujara identified. The batter's ability to score quickly while maintaining an understanding of match situations has marked his rise in the format. His familiarity with venues and growing game awareness suggest a player developing beyond raw power hitting into a more complete T20 cricketer.
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