"The next batting superstar of India is Abhishek Sharma" - Indian legend's massive claim after AUS vs IND 2025 2nd T20I

Legendary India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has heaped high praise on opening batter Abhishek Sharma. His remarks came after the southpaw’s impressive knock in the second T20I of the five-match series against Australia on Friday, October 31, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

After being put into bat, the visitors were bowled out for 125 in 18.4 overs, but Abhishek stood out with a brilliant 68 off 37 balls, hitting eight fours and two sixes. In response, Australia comfortably chased down the target in 13.2 overs to win by four wickets.

Despite the Men in Blue's defeat, during a discussion on his YouTube channel, Ashwin hailed Abhishek as India’s next batting superstar, noting that the youngster has been consistently working on his bat swing and even seeks advice from legends like Brian Lara. Ashwin said:

“I truly believe, man, that the next batting superstar of India is Abhishek Sharma. See, he doesn’t have a problem exactly, not a problem, but a challenge. “Problem” is a very big word. His challenge is to be able to control that downswing. I was reading somewhere that he still talks to Brian Lara because Lara had a huge backlift. His bat swing was magnificent too, so Abhishek spoke to Lara about controlling that bat swing to be able to play Test cricket.” “So just think about his mindset, it’s ticking at that level. Even that day in Canberra, when the match was washed out, he was talking to Shubman Gill. From his gestures, it looked like he was talking about the bat swing and the pull shot. I even have a screenshot from the last game; he was a bit late on the pull shot then. But in this game, he made that correction. He found a way to get it over the top,” he added.

The 25-year-old has represented India in 26 T20Is, scoring 936 runs at an average of 37.44 and a strike rate of 193.38, including six half-centuries and two centuries.

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“These are all very special abilities that a player possesses” - Ravichandran Ashwin lauds Abhishek Sharma for his knock in the 2nd T20I

In the same video, Ravichandran Ashwin pointed out that during the second T20I, the Australian bowlers bowled tight lines, but Abhishek Sharma countered them brilliantly. Praising the southpaw’s batting ability, Ashwin remarked:

“All said and done, that bat swing, he actually stepped out today, charged down the track, and Australia bowled really well too. They were bowling tight lines, fuller lengths, taking the pace off. But that full ball, especially when you charge at a fast bowler and they try to bowl a yorker, you don’t have width to free your arms. Yet, he was still able to open up his arms and hit it over covers for a boundary.” “These are all very special abilities that a player possesses. I always say, we all work hard, but to make that hard work shine, you need a little gift, that God-given gift. Abhishek Sharma has that gift. He has the mind to think deeply about the game, and he is just an exceptionally talented batter. I wish I could keep watching him all day long. On a tough pitch and a tough day for India, once again, he gave us a beautiful exhibition of what good batsmanship in T20 cricket looks like,” he added.

Abhishek Sharma will return to action in the third T20I, scheduled for Sunday, November 2, in Hobart.

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Edited by Dev Sharma