Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has delivered a scathing response to Mohammad Amir’s controversial ‘slogger’ tag for Abhishek Sharma, launching an impassioned defence of the younger opener following his match-winning fifty against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash in Chennai.
Talking on his fashionable YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’, Ashwin dismissed the previous Pakistan pacer’s evaluation and made the beautiful declare that Abhishek possesses a greater bat swing than his legendary mentor Yuvraj Singh.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s fiery response to Mohammad Amir
The controversy started in the course of the event’s group stage when Abhishek registered three consecutive geese in opposition to the USA, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. Amid the lean patch, Amir labelled the left-handed opener a “slogger” and questioned his defensive approach, stating that high quality bowling assaults would expose his limitations on the worldwide stage .
Nevertheless, after Abhishek silenced his critics with a blazing 55 off simply 30 balls in opposition to Zimbabwe – that includes 4 boundaries and 4 sixes—Ashwin took to his YouTube channel to set the document straight .
“There’s a video of Mohammad Amir doing the rounds, the place he known as Abhishek Sharma a slogger. I simply need to make one factor clear: you possibly can say something about his recreation, however he’s not a slogger. He has one of the enviable bat swings within the recreation right this moment,” Ashwin declared.
The previous India spinner, who retired from worldwide cricket in December 2024, went a step additional by evaluating Abhishek’s approach to his illustrious mentor.
“Everyone knows Yuvraj Singh is his mentor. He has most likely acquired a greater bat swing than him as nicely. You can’t get a greater bat swing than that. At any time when Abhishek strikes the ball, it goes very far. So individuals can mistake him for being a slogger. The one factor Abhishek has been responsible of is displaying intent on each ball,” Ashwin added.
Abhishek endured a nightmare begin to his T20 World Cup marketing campaign, registering geese in opposition to the USA, Pakistan and the Netherlands – a run compounded by a abdomen an infection that required hospitalisation and triggered important weight reduction. He missed the Namibia match fully earlier than managing simply 15 off 12 balls in India’s heavy defeat to South Africa.
Nevertheless, in opposition to Zimbabwe on the MA Chidambaram Stadium on February 26, Abhishek lastly delivered the knock India had been ready for. Opening alongside Sanju Samson, he reached his fifty in simply 26 balls, setting the platform for India’s mammoth 256/4. His innings, mixed with a late blitz from Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya, proved decisive as India secured an important 72-run victory to maintain their semifinal hopes alive.
Amir’s clarification relating to his slogger comment for Abhishek
Following the backlash, Amir had eralier clarified his remarks, explaining that his feedback had been technical observations reasonably than private criticism. Talking after India’s defeat to South Africa, the left-arm pacer emphasised that he charges Abhishek as one of many most interesting younger abilities within the recreation.
“I used to be speaking about him from the standpoint of a bowler. I used to be speaking about his approach. Folks felt dangerous as a result of I used the phrase slogger,” Amir advised a Pakistani TV channel. “By that, I meant his approach is such {that a} good crew, a bunch of excellent bowlers, can entice him. Take a look at the 14 runs he scored, he scored all of them on one facet. The balls he hit had been dangerous balls. However, when Rabada began bowling nicely, he was 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 aggressive recreation. “As a senior participant, if my message goes to him, I’ll inform him: Your approach will get uncovered in worldwide cricket. For those who can present some endurance and play the ball on its advantage, then will probably be higher. He has the abilities, but it surely depends upon him how nicely he’ll utilise them.”
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Ashwin’s technical recommendation to Abhishek
Past defending Abhishek, Ashwin supplied constructive technical recommendation, urging the younger batter to prioritise timing over brute power. “Abhishek doesn’t have to offer energy on his pictures. If anybody is speaking to him, simply inform him concerning the significance of timing the ball correctly,” the veteran spinner suggested.
This emphasis on timing aligns with Ashwin’s broader evaluation that Abhishek’s pure items – significantly his bat swing – are world-class. The previous off-spinner has beforehand recognized Abhishek as considered one of two “puzzles” opposition groups should remedy to beat India within the T20 World Cup, alongside thriller spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
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