"His name will be remembered for a long time": Pujara on Abhishek Sharma's T20I heroics
Cheteshwar Pujara compares Abhishek Sharma to Chris Gayle after his record-breaking T20I run milestone.
Former Indian cricket stalwart Cheteshwar Pujara has showered high praise on Abhishek Sharma following his historic feat in the T20I format. The young batter has etched his name into the record books by becoming the fastest player to reach 2,000 T20I runs, a milestone that has left the cricketing world in awe.
A Gayle-like Dominance
Speaking on JioHotstar's 'Game Plan', Pujara expressed his astonishment at how quickly Sharma reached this significant landmark. The batter achieved the 2,000-run milestone in just 1,024 balls, a feat that underscores his explosive nature at the crease.
"Nobody thought that he would cross such a big milestone so quickly," Pujara remarked. "When we talk about the T20 format, we immediately think of Chris Gayle from the West Indies. Abhishek has that kind of ability."
Pujara further highlighted the maturity shown by the left-hander, specifically citing his performance in the second T20I against the West Indies in Indore, where he smashed a rapid 69 off just 30 deliveries.
"The way he showed maturity, especially in Indore, by taking a little time... shows he is understanding his game a little better, recognising the opposition's strengths, and batting accordingly. His name will be remembered for a long time," Pujara added.
Abhishek Sharma's Statistical Surge
Abhishek Sharma's numbers this year have been nothing short of extraordinary. His ability to strike the ball with immense power has made him a vital asset for India in the shortest format. His career statistics in T20Is currently stand at:
- Matches/Innings: 65 T20Is in 64 innings
- Total Runs: 2,036
- Average: 32.83
- Strike Rate: 195.95
- Centuries: 3
- Half-centuries: 14
- Highest Score: 135*
This year has been particularly productive for Sharma, who has amassed 921 runs in 32 matches with a staggering strike rate of 206.50. Notably, his 108 remains the fastest T20I century by a batter from a Test-playing nation.
Pujara on Ishan Kishan's Role
While discussing the explosive Abhishek Sharma, Pujara also touched upon the role of Ishan Kishan in the Indian setup. Kishan has been a key component at number three, providing the team with aggressive starts during the powerplay.
"Coming in at number 3, Ishan Kishan is giving the Indian team what they need," Pujara said. "I don't think you will see a big score every time because everyone in the top order is an explosive player. Their role is only to give the team a good start and to utilise the powerplay to the maximum."
Kishan is currently on the verge of a massive record, sitting just 43 runs away from surpassing Suryakumar Yadav's record for the most runs by an Indian batter in T20Is during a single calendar year. He has already accumulated 1,122 runs in 32 matches this year, maintaining an average of 38.68.