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Abhishek Sharma's T20 World Cup Form: Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has defended Abhishek Sharma against criticism, dismissing former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir's criticism that the Indian opener is "just a slogger".
Amir's criticism stemmed from Abhishek’s fruitless run in the group stage, where he was dismissed for three consecutive ducks, which eventually led a former Pakistan pacer to question his technique.
Ashwin lauded Abhishek’s batting technique, stating that he has one of the most desirable bat swings in the game, arguably even better than his mentor, Yuvraj Singh.
“There is a video of Mohammad Amir doing the rounds, where he called Abhishek Sharma a slogger. I just want to make one thing clear: you can say anything about his game, but he is not a slogger. He has one of the most enviable bat swings in the game today. We all know Yuvraj Singh is his mentor,” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel.
“He has probably got a better bat swing than him as well. You cannot get a better bat swing than that. Whenever Abhishek strikes the ball, it goes very far. So people can mistake him for being a slogger. The one thing Abhishek has been guilty of is showing intent on every ball,” he said.
Abhishek’s labours in the initial phase of the 2026 T20 World Cup, marked by three consecutive ducks, had made his form and technique a topic of debate, drawing criticism from a former Pakistan pacer.
“He is a slogger, that is how I see him. A player who cannot judge the line and defend the ball properly, can I call him a proper batter? He comes in and swings hard and it connects well for him right now. “But the day he (Abhishek) learns to handle tough lines and defend properly, I will change my opinion. You are playing on small grounds and flat wickets; you have not really been tested yet," Amir had said.
However, the young opener silenced his critics with a composed 55-run knock against Zimbabwe, showcasing a more rhythmic approach.