Gayle-like impact? Ex-cricketer sees Abhishek Sharma as India’s T20 engine

Chris Gayl, Abhishek Sharma

Former Sri Lanka cricketer Chamara Kapugedera said India’s recent T20 success has been built around opener Abhishek Sharma, comparing his impact at the top to that of Chris Gayle during his peak years.Over the past year in T20Is, Abhishek has scored at a strike rate of over 170 while averaging in the mid-30s, with several half-centuries. His scoring rate in the Powerplay has been among the highest for Indian openers, helping India put runs on the board early and easing pressure on the middle order.

“India’s success in the last one year, (has) mainly depended on Abhishek Sharma, the star because the way he batted the past year, I think that’s phenomenal.”“I haven’t seen anyone doing that except for Chris Gayle when we were starting. I don’t think anyone can replace Abhishek Sharma at the moment in the Indian team,” Kapugedera was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.Kapugedera, who represented Sri Lanka in all three formats and played more than 100 ODIs and 43 T20Is, compared Abhishek with Sanju Samson. He said Abhishek’s scoring pattern allows India to structure their innings around him.“Yes, Sanju (Samson) is a great player. We have seen him scoring 100s, but the way Abhishek scores runs, it gives India so much of freedom to play around him or do whatever they want actually in the middle overs.“So, what Abhishek gives is important to India going forward in this (T20 World Cup) campaign, especially for getting into the final.”Looking ahead to the India-Pakistan clash, Kapugedera said Pakistan do not hold a clear advantage despite playing all their matches at the venue.“There’s no advantage for Pakistan in the game here as the conditions in Colombo may not necessarily offer steep bounce. Unlike the SSC (Sinhala Sports Club) surface, known for sponge bounce and carry, the Premadasa wicket is generally lower and slower, often gripping as the game progresses,” opined Kapugedera.“I think going into the match, India will be the favourites, but the way Pakistan is playing, it’s going to be a very close game,” he said.