‘Exceptional skill, fearless mindset’: Ex-Pakistan captains rave about Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill after India’s fiery Asia Cup win
In a thrilling encounter on Sunday night, India’s dynamic young openers, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, commanded attention as they steered their team to a dominant six-wicket victory against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup Super 4 clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Their explosive partnership not only propelled India’s successful chase but also drew effusive praise from former Pakistan captains Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik, who were left thoroughly impressed by their skill and composure under pressure.
Tasked with chasing a target of 172, Abhishek Sharma unleashed a blistering assault, scoring 74 runs off just 39 deliveries, decorated with six fours and five towering sixes. Complementing his aggression, Shubman Gill played a fluent innings of 47 runs from 28 balls. Together, this formidable duo forged a 105-run opening partnership within just nine overs, effectively dismantling Pakistan’s potent pace attack, spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf. India confidently reached the target in 18.5 overs, marking their second victory over Pakistan within a span of eight days.
Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq was particularly struck by Abhishek’s fearless approach. Speaking on Tapmad’s post-match analysis, Misbah remarked, “The skill level is truly exceptional, and his temperament is incredibly impressive. Despite this being his first time playing against Pakistan, he showed no signs of pressure; he batted as if he were merely practicing in the nets. When the ball entered his hitting zone, he dispatched it with effortless power. He puts the opposition’s key bowlers under immense pressure from the very first ball, making it incredibly difficult for the team to recover.”
Shoaib Malik, another former Pakistan all-rounder, expressed similar admiration for both openers. “I initially thought Shubman Gill would carry his bat through,” Malik commented, highlighting Gill’s all-around quality. “He isn’t a one-dimensional player; he possesses the ability to score across the entire field. Crucially, as the powerplay ended and conditions changed, he skillfully began rotating the strike.” Malik further emphasized the importance of such adaptability in top-order batsmen: “Your top three batters shouldn’t be restricted to just one style of play. They should be capable of rotating the strike, finding boundaries through gaps, and hitting sixes when the opportunity arises. This kind of clarity is what enables them to produce such remarkable innings.”
The resounding commendation from these Pakistani cricketing legends underscores the burgeoning reputation of India’s next-generation batting stars. Their audacious and fearless style of play once again proved overwhelming for their traditional arch-rivals.