Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has heaped praise on Abhishek Sharma for his explosive performance in the first T20I against Afghanistan in New Delhi. The former India captain compared the left-handed opener’s ability to hit towering sixes with that of his mentor, Yuvraj Singh, while highlighting his potential to change the course of a match within a few overs.

Afghanistan posted 156/8 after being asked to bat first, setting India a target of 157 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, September 13. Abhishek then produced a breathtaking response, smashing 82 runs from just 32 deliveries. His aggressive knock helped India chase down the target in only 13.4 overs and secure a convincing seven-wicket victory with 38 balls to spare.

Speaking on Sony Sports, Gavaskar was asked about Abhishek’s remarkable ability to hit the ball high and long. The former India opener praised his timing and follow-through, drawing similarities with Yuvraj’s trademark strokeplay. “He has got such great timing. His follow-through goes right behind, just like Yuvraj.”

ALSO READ: Mohammed Kaif Questions Shreyas Iyer’s Decision To Give Shivam Dube The Final Over

Sunil Gavaskar also highlighted how Abhishek’s powerful hitting often sends the ball deep into the stands rather than merely clearing the boundary. The legendary batter believes Abhishek can dismantle bowling attacks and put opposition bowlers under immense pressure. However, he also acknowledged that such an aggressive approach can sometimes result in failures.

“He has got this capability of destroying attacks, taking the initiative, and destroying the bowler’s confidence.” According to Gavaskar, India’s team management has given Abhishek the freedom to express himself and play with an attacking mindset. While the opener may not score consistently every time, his aggressive approach can prove decisive when he gets going.

Gavaskar further described Abhishek as both a game-changer and a game-breaker, pointing out that some of his sixes against Noor Ahmad came from deliveries that were not necessarily poor. “It’s a rare ability to hit good balls for boundaries and sixes, and he has that ability.”

The former India captain also credited India’s impressive batting depth for allowing players such as Abhishek and Sanju Samson to attack during the Powerplay. With enough batting resources in the lineup, India can afford to take calculated risks during the first six overs.

ALSO READ: Mohit Sharma Gives India Suggestion To Add 5th Bowler After Afghanistan T20I Win

Abhishek’s innings featured seven fours and seven sixes, underlining the sheer dominance of his performance. In contrast, Sanju Samson failed to capitalise on his opportunity, scoring 10 runs from eight balls before being dismissed by Azmatullah Omarzai.