Harbhajan Singh advises Abhishek Sharma to focus on bowling
What's the story
Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has advised rising star Abhishek Sharma to spend more time honing his bowling skills. This comes after Sharma's record-breaking performance in the fifth T20I against England at Wankhede Stadium, where he scored a remarkable 135 runs off just 54 balls and took two wickets. Despite this impressive display, Singh believes that Sharma could further enhance his game by focusing on his leg-spinning abilities.
Potential
Singh's assessment of Sharma's potential as a leg-spinner
Singh, who had captained Sharma in his debut Ranji Trophy season, said he believes the youngster has all the qualities to become a successful leg-spinner. "I would like to see him bowl more," Singh said on his YouTube channel. Singh added that while batting is Sharma's first love, he shouldn't ignore honing his bowling skills.
Comparison
Singh compares Sharma's style to cricketing greats
Singh also drew parallels between Sharma's aggressive playing style and that of cricketing legends like Travis Head, Virender Sehwag, and Viv Richards. He said Sharma could replicate their success in Test cricket. "On his day, he just takes the game away," Singh said. This is also in line with India's current strategy under head coach Gautam Gambhir, which focuses on nurturing batters who can also bowl.
Career
Sharma's early career and recent achievements
Sharma made his Ranji Trophy debut at just 17, scoring a stunning 94 runs in his debut match. Singh, who was then leading Punjab, saw his potential early on. In the recently concluded five-match series against England, Sharma was the top run-scorer with 279 runs. He had a record-breaking knock of 135 runs off just 54 balls in the fifth T20I match at Wankhede Stadium.