Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has delivered a scathing reaction to Mohammad Amir’s debatable ‘slogger’ tag for Abhishek Sharma, launching an impassioned defence of the younger opener following his match-winning fifty in opposition to Zimbabwe within the T20 Global Cup 2026 Tremendous 8 conflict in Chennai.
Talking on his well-liked YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’, Ashwin disregarded the previous Pakistan pacer’s review and made the lovely declare that Abhishek possesses a greater bat swing than his mythical mentor Yuvraj Singh.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s fiery reaction to Mohammad Amir
The talk started right through the event’s staff degree when Abhishek registered 3 consecutive geese in opposition to the United States, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. Amid the tilt patch, Amir labelled the left-handed opener a “slogger” and wondered his defensive methodology, mentioning that high quality bowling assaults would reveal his obstacles on the world degree .
On the other hand, after Abhishek silenced his critics with a blazing 55 off simply 30 balls in opposition to Zimbabwe – that includes 4 barriers and 4 sixes—Ashwin took to his YouTube channel to set the file immediately .
“There’s a video of Mohammad Amir doing the rounds, the place he referred to as Abhishek Sharma a slogger. I simply need to make something transparent: you’ll be able to say anything else about his recreation, however he isn’t a slogger. He has one of the enviable bat swings within the recreation lately,” Ashwin declared.
The previous India spinner, who retired from world cricket in December 2024, went a step additional via evaluating Abhishek’s approach to his illustrious mentor.
“Everyone knows Yuvraj Singh is his mentor. He has more than likely were given a greater bat swing than him as neatly. You can not get a greater bat swing than that. On every occasion Abhishek moves the ball, it is going very some distance. So other people can mistake him for being a slogger. The only factor Abhishek has been in charge of is appearing intent on each ball,” Ashwin added.
Abhishek persisted a nightmare begin to his T20 Global Cup marketing campaign, registering geese in opposition to the United States, Pakistan and the Netherlands – a run compounded via a abdomen an infection that required hospitalisation and brought about important weight reduction. He neglected the Namibia tournament totally sooner than managing simply 15 off 12 balls in India’s heavy defeat to South Africa.
On the other hand, in opposition to Zimbabwe on the MA Chidambaram Stadium on February 26, Abhishek in spite of everything delivered the knock India were looking forward to. Opening along Sanju Samson, he reached his fifty in simply 26 balls, environment the platform for India’s mammoth 256/4. His innings, mixed with a overdue blitz from Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya, proved decisive as India secured a the most important 72-run victory to stay their semifinal hopes alive.
Amir’s rationalization referring to his slogger observation for Abhishek
Following the backlash, Amir had eralier clarified his remarks, explaining that his feedback had been technical observations somewhat than private grievance. Talking after India’s defeat to South Africa, the left-arm pacer emphasized that he charges Abhishek as probably the most greatest younger abilities within the recreation.
“I used to be speaking about him from the viewpoint of a bowler. I used to be speaking about his methodology. Other people felt dangerous as a result of I used the phrase slogger,” Amir advised a Pakistani TV channel. “By means of that, I supposed his methodology is such {that a} just right group, a host of excellent bowlers, can entice him. Take a look at the 14 runs he scored, he scored they all on one aspect. The balls he hit had been dangerous balls. However, when Rabada began bowling neatly, he was once now not in a position to determine it out.”
Amir additionally despatched a public message to the younger Indian batter, advising him to include endurance into his naturally competitive recreation. “As a senior participant, if my message is going to him, I can inform him: Your methodology will get uncovered in world cricket. If you’ll be able to display some endurance and play the ball on its advantage, then it is going to be higher. He has the talents, nevertheless it relies on him how neatly he’s going to utilise them.”
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Ashwin’s technical recommendation to Abhishek
Past protecting Abhishek, Ashwin introduced optimistic technical recommendation, urging the younger batter to prioritise timing over brute power. “Abhishek doesn’t have to present energy on his pictures. If somebody is speaking to him, simply inform him concerning the significance of timing the ball correctly,” the veteran spinner recommended.
This emphasis on timing aligns with Ashwin’s broader review that Abhishek’s herbal presents – specifically his bat swing – are world-class. The previous off-spinner has up to now known Abhishek as one among two “puzzles” opposition groups will have to remedy to overcome India within the T20 Global Cup, along thriller spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
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