Former Indian Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara has praised Abhishek Sharma after India secured a 14-run win in the third T20I against the West Indies at the Holkar Stadium, Indore, on Sunday. Sharma, who was dismissed cheaply in the second game, scored an impressive knock of 69 runs off just 30 balls.
The left-hander smashed six fours and five sixes in his blistering knock and scored his runs at a whirlwind strike rate of 230. Thus, he played a key role in giving a solid start to the team and the hosts eventually posted 223 runs on the board.
During his knock, Abhishek also completed 2000 T20I runs and became the fastest to reach the milestone in terms of balls faced, getting there off 1024 balls.
Pujara admitted he didn’t expect Abhishek to reach the milestone of 2000 T20I runs so quickly.
“No one had thought he would surpass such a big milestone so soon. However, the way Abhishek has done that, he is probably one of India’s best T20 players thus far, and going forward as well, I feel he has so much ability that the Indian team will remember his name,” Pujara said on JioHostar show Game Plan.
The former Indian number three Test batter compared Abhishek Sharma with former swasbuckling batter Chris Gayle.
“When we talk about the T20 format, we remember Chris Gayle’s name from the West Indies team. He has ability like that. However, the way he showed maturity, especially in Indore, he took a little time – five or six balls. That’s a very long time for him. He is understanding his game and the opposition’s strength, and batting according to that,” Pujara observed.
Pujara added that the off-side is Abhishek Sharma’s strength in T20I format.
“The off side has been his strength in the T20 format. He has a lot of shots on the off side. His stance is on the leg stump, and then he gives himself space by making room. He almost stands here (well outside the leg stump),” he said.
The fourth T20I between India and the West Indies will be played at Hyderabad on Wednesday.
