Abhishek Sharma will become a proper all-rounder for India in the future: Rashid Khan

After losing their first three matches, Sunrisers Hyderabad finally registered a win in the IPL 2021, when they defeated Punjab Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday. After the match, Sunrisers’ leg-spinner Rashid Khan was heard praising Abhishek Sharma, the 20-year-old all-rounder, who played a crucial role in SRH’s win. 

Given the responsibility to open the bowling for Hyderabad in this match, the Punjab all-rounder made things happen for his side. He bowled four overs for only 24 runs and picked up the wickets of Deepak Hooda and Moises Henriques to cripple Punjab’s first inning. After that, the youngster was seen getting interviewed by the Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan, who himself ended with figures of 1 for 17 in four overs. 

Khan said that Sharma has a lot of ability and will become a proper all-rounder in the future for the Indian team. “You will become a proper all-rounder for India in the future who will play a lot of matches for his side. You have a lot of ability. If you work hard, you will get success,” Rashid told Abhishek Sharma in a video posted on the official IPL website.

Abhishek Sharma reveals that he developed a new variation during the lockdown

Abhishek then explained how he felt that he was ready to take on the challenge. He revealed that it was only when the team got together for the huddle, was when he got to know that he was going to be bowling the first over. “I was practicing my bowling a lot. I asked you a lot about this role, I was also confident of doing the job for our team,” Rashid said. 

Sharma revealed that it was during the lockdown that he, with the help of his father, tried to develop a new variation, a slider. He noted that he used it in the match for Sunrisers Hyderabad and worked it out for him. 

“During the lockdown, we were at home. My father is my childhood coach, he was a left-arm spinner so I have learned a lot from him during the lockdown. The variation like a slider, I learned that. I had the confidence to implement it in the game. I think I can bowl this ball at any stage of the game,” he added.

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