Abhishek Sharma will carry Yuvraj Singh’s legacy forward, says Ashwin

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New Delhi: Abhishek Sharma’s explosive batting in India’s Super 4 clash against Pakistan has not only turned heads but also drawn high praise from some of the game’s biggest names. Ravichandran Ashwin was among the first to weigh in, calling the youngster a once-in-a-generation talent who is destined to dominate white-ball cricket for India.

The 23-year-old left-hander smashed a blistering 74 from just 39 balls, an innings filled with elegance and brute power in equal measure. His knock set the tone for Men In Blue’s six-wicket win, and Ashwin believes this is only a glimpse of what is to come. On his YouTube channel, R Ashwin said, “This is not just the arrival of Abhishek Sharma, this is the beginning. He has a long career ahead, and he is going to blow the cricketing world apart.”

The former off-spinner went one step further by placing Sharma in elite company. “Take it in writing – he can easily become India’s best white-ball batter. Just like Yuvraj Singh became a marquee name, Abhishek can carry that legacy forward. He is a phenomenal talent,” Ashwin added.

 

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Shades of Yuvraj in Abhishek’s strokes

The comparisons with Yuvraj Singh aren’t accidental. The former Indian star is Abhishek Sharma‘s mentor, clearly showing glimpses of him in his batting. Abhishek’s fearless approach and clean striking against Pakistan reminded fans of the iconic left-hander who terrorised bowlers in the 2000s. Against Pakistan, Abhishek brought out a shot that had everyone talking when he whipped through extra cover off Saim Ayub that had the power of MS Dhoni’s helicopter and the finesse of Yuvraj’s inside-out cover drive.

Ashwin signalled out that particular stroke as the standout moment of his innings. He said, “People will remember the sixes, but that cover drive was pure class. He has the ability to make batting look so simple, and that’s a rare quality.”

That elegance immediately sparked memories of Yuvraj’s own T20 heroics when, in the 2007 T20 World Cup, after demolishing England with six sixes in Durban, he delivered another masterclass against Australia in the semifinal. In that clash, he walked in at 41-2 and needed just 30 balls to rip through a world-class attack, hammering five fours and five towering sixes. The major highlight of the innings was his flicked 119-m six against Brett Lee’s thunderbolt – an image that still defines his aura. Those 38 minutes of destruction carried India to 188 and eventually into the final, setting the stage for a new era in Indian cricket.

For many, Abhishek’s ability to mix power with timing evokes the same thrill that Yuvraj once brought to the crease. His partnership with his childhood friend and teammate, Shubman Gill, added another layer to the story. The pair put on 105 runs for the opening wicket, dismantling Pakistan’s attack and all but sealing the contest before the halfway mark. With 173 runs in the tournament already, Abhishek is leading the run charts and showing no signs of slowing down.

Record-breaking spree

Abhishek’s 74 wasn’t just another quicker knock as it carved weight in the record books. With his blistering knock, he became the fastest batter to smash 50 sixes in T20 internationals, reaching the mark in just 331 balls. The record was previously held by West Indies opener Evin Lewis, who took 366 deliveries.

He also registered the fastest half-century by an Indian against Pakistan in T20Is, getting there in just 24 balls. The previous best belonged to none other than his mentor, Yuvraj Singh, who smashed fifty in 29 balls against Pakistan back in 2012.

For Indian cricket fans, the echoes are unmistakable. Eighteen years after Yuvraj Singh’s 2007 heroics redefined India’s T20 cricket landscape, another left-hander is carving his own story in style.

In other words, the disciple is on track to take his master’s legacy forward.