Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) remarkable success in IPL 2024 can be largely attributed to the exceptional performance of their opening pair, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. Abhishek, in particular, has emerged as a formidable force, impressing legendary Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh with his aggressive batting style.
In SRH's final league-stage match against Punjab Kings, Abhishek smashed his third half-century of the season, scoring a blistering 66 off 28 balls. His innings included five fours and six sixes, providing SRH with the quick start they needed after Head's early dismissal.
Abhishek's consistent performances throughout the season have earned him high praise from Harbhajan, who believes he is on the verge of breaking into the Indian team. "He is not just knocking at the Indian team's door but almost breaking it open," said Harbhajan.
Abhishek's impressive batting average of 467 runs in 13 innings, with a strike rate of 209.41, is a testament to his dominance. He has also hit a season-high 41 sixes, showcasing his power-hitting abilities.
"The kind of batting he has done in this entire season, I don't think any other youngster has played this well," added Harbhajan. "He has dominated with the bat. He hasn't bowled yet, which he is quite good at as well. He is a good allrounder."
Abhishek's journey began with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2018, when he was just 17 years old. He also represented India's Under-19 team that won the U-19 World Cup in New Zealand the same year. In 2019, he joined the Sunrisers.
One of Abhishek's most memorable performances this season was his 16-ball fifty against Mumbai Indians, the fastest ever by an SRH batsman. This innings played a crucial role in SRH's record-breaking 277-run total, the highest in IPL history.
"He was unhappy today because he had a hundred there on a platter. He missed it," said Harbhajan. "But the knocks he has played (so far this season), those have been impactful. He was a youngster when he made his Ranji debut for Punjab under me. I am so happy to see his progress, the way he has enhanced his performance. He is around that door to the Indian team now, one day he will enter it."
Tags: #IPL2024, #SunrisersHyderabad, #AbhishekSharma, #TravisHead, #HarbhajanSingh
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