Former India player Aakash Chopra has praised Abhishek Sharma for scoring a stunning century in the fifth T20I against England in Mumbai on Sunday, February 2. He also stated that the opener excelled in a city that loves Rohit Sharma, who has the same surname as well. However, Abhishek smashed 135 runs off 54 balls as India posted a massive 247/9 after being asked to bat first. The hosts then bundled England out
for 97 to register a comprehensive 150-run win and won the series 4-1 as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “Mumbai city has a story. This city launches superstars. You see either zeroes or heroes here, and the hero sometimes becomes a superhero, and how well he (Abhishek) played. This city likes Sharma ji a lot in any case and Sharma ji likes this city a lot. That was Rohit Sharma, and Rohit Sharma has the record of the fastest T20I century (by an Indian) and our brother (Abhishek) has the second-fastest. He is following in Rohit’s footsteps. If you are a Sharma and you open for Team India, and you strike the ball well, your future is very bright. It seems like that and we saw the proof of that here.”
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However, Aakash Chopra also added that the selectors deserve praise for giving enough chances to Abhishek Sharma, although many experts wanted Yashasvi Jaiswal to be picked in his place as well.
“He had struck a century in just his second T20I match, but after that, that consistency wasn’t there. You need to praise the selectors as well that they selected him because we were also saying why you aren’t selecting Yashasvi as he is in red-hot form. However, they said they would remain with Abhishek, he plays high-risk cricket, but this is what they want. He was getting stuck on bouncers earlier but that’s no longer the case. If you bowl at 150 kph, he hits at 175 kph. He makes room, opens his arms, and hits on the off-side. Some shots were breathtaking,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
