Shoaib Akhtar Praises Abhishek Sharma’s Stellar Form, Calls Him A “Rising Star” For India

February 22, 2025: India’s explosive opening batter, Abhishek Sharma, has been making waves in international cricket with his blistering performances, and his recent displays have earned him high praise from none other than Pakistan’s former fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar. Known as the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ for his speed and fiery pace, Akhtar recently shared his admiration for Abhishek after watching his incredible batting abilities in the Indian team’s recent T20I matches.

Akhtar, who met Abhishek in Dubai, was full of praise for the young cricketer, calling him a “rising star” for India. He shared a video on his social media account, where he lauded Abhishek for his remarkable century and impressive all-round performance, which also included taking two wickets for just three runs in the first over of the fifth T20I match. Akhtar expressed his admiration for the young batter’s potential and urged him to keep up his form and break more records in the future.

Abhishek’s journey to prominence in T20 cricket began on a somewhat rough note, with a duck in his T20I debut against Zimbabwe. However, since that debut, the young southpaw has not looked back, continuously impressing fans and critics alike with his aggressive batting style and record-breaking performances. His rise to fame coincided with a new era in Indian cricket following Rahul Dravid’s tenure as head coach, as Gautam Gambhir took the reins and brought fresh talent into the team, including Abhishek.

Abhishek’s most memorable knock came in the fifth and final match of the T20I series against an unknown opponent, where he smashed a blistering 135 runs off just 54 balls, marking the highest individual score by an Indian batter in the shortest format of the game. His explosive knock earned him the distinction of being the leading run-scorer of the series, accumulating 279 runs at an average of 55.80 and a strike rate of 219.68, including a century and a fifty.

“I am glad that I wasn’t born in this era because of people like this young lad,” Akhtar said. “He recently got a hundred. I watched your inning. It was fantastic and amazing. I gave him a couple of advice, don’t leave your strength. Great life ahead for this young, talented guy. I wish him all the best. Abhishek, go ahead and break all records. He is a rising star for India.”

Abhishek’s meteoric rise in T20 cricket has put him on the map as one of the most exciting young talents in world cricket. His versatility, power-hitting ability, and adaptability to various match situations make him a valuable asset to the Indian team as they continue to build towards the future. With his remarkable performances and the endorsement from a cricketing legend like Shoaib Akhtar, Abhishek Sharma’s career is certainly one to watch in the coming years.