Former India player turned commentator Aakash Chopra has applauded star India opener Abhishek Sharma for scoring a match-winning fifty in the first T20I against New Zealand. He also shared two attributes that make him special. Abhishek also smashed 84 runs off 35 deliveries as India beat New Zealand convincingly on Wednesday, January 21.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “How well he plays. He hits sixes so easily. Two things make him extremely special. One is, where will a bowler bowl with the new ball? He keeps six players on the off side, keeps a slip, and looks for swing. So he will bowl outside the off-stump only, on the fourth to sixth stump.”

“He will bowl either full or short, but keep it on that side only. He (Abhishek) goes over cover or hits straight sixes. Then the bowler comes around the stumps and tries to bowl on the body. He plays well on that side in any case. So the fact that he can play so well on the off side constantly and can consistently hit such good sixes, you have to doff your hat,” he further added.

However, Aakash Chopra also added that Abhishek Sharma also has the ability to hit sixes against spin without leaving his crease as well.

“Then comes spin. What will a spinner do? A spinner tries to bowl full so that he doesn’t get hit for sixes off the back foot. He tries to keep the ball within the three stumps so that he is not swept much, but once again, Abhishek Sharma hits straight sixes while standing in his position,” he said.

“Then if you come slightly on his body, he hits on the leg side. He is absolutely stellar. So one should clap for him. If he remains in this form, he is the guy. We called him the X-factor and Sunny ji said he is X, Y, Z, and all factors. I will say yes, sir. He is that kind of a player,” Aakash Chopra concluded.