Aoba Tanaka 
In a thrilling Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals in Chennai, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s all-rounder Abhishek Sharma delivered a match-winning performance that secured SRH’s spot in the IPL final. Despite being uncertain if he would be called upon to bowl, Abhishek’s readiness paid off as he produced a remarkable spell of 2 for 24, dismantling RR’s middle order.
“To be honest, I didn’t know I will bowl this match but I was very much ready with my bowling because I’ve been working really hard on my bowling,” Abhishek said after the game. “The last two years it’s been really good with my batting so I wanted to work on my bowling with my dad. So special mention to my dad.”
Abhishek Sharma has had a stellar season with the bat, scoring 482 runs at a strike rate of 207.75 in 15 innings. His 42 sixes are the most this season, setting a record for an Indian batter in any IPL season. However, on this crucial night, it was his left-arm spin that shone brightly. He dismissed Sanju Samson with his third ball and bowled Shimron Hetmyer with a carrom ball in his third over, leaving RR reeling at six down. Remarkably, he did not concede a boundary in his first three overs.
Abhishek was the sixth bowler used by SRH in their defense of 175, as the Chennai pitch offered significant turn in the absence of dew. Although he hadn’t bowled much for SRH this season, his 20 overs for Punjab in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy showcased his bowling prowess.
“When I saw the starting XI, I knew he’s [Abhishek] going to bowl today,” Varun Aaron commented on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show. “He’s a really good bowler. I’ve seen a lot of him in domestic cricket. He’s one of those bowlers who tosses it up a little bit, more than the others. He bowls that carrom ball which comes out from the front of the hand, that was a really good ball. That shows he has a lot of tricks up his sleeve.”
Despite his limited bowling opportunities in the IPL, Abhishek is among the few Indian batters who can contribute with the ball in limited-overs cricket, a skill set that’s been missing in the Indian team for a while. His ability to bowl left-arm spin and bat at the top of the order makes him a valuable asset.
“He backs himself 100%,” Tom Moody said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show. “For the future of Indian cricket, he needs to be bowling because he is a serious package to be reckoned with. [He] bats at the top of the order, someone who can bowl left-arm spin whatever the format, he’s going to be a real asset going forward.”
Abhishek’s unique style of bowling, which focuses on overspin rather than sidespin, and his clever carrom ball were particularly effective, as evidenced by the delivery that dismissed Hetmyer. This combination of skills positions Abhishek as a key player to watch in the upcoming final and beyond.
As SRH prepares for the IPL final, Abhishek Sharma’s all-round capabilities and confidence will undoubtedly be crucial for their success.
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