“Everyone will buy the match ticket to watch this guy play” - Irfan Pathan heaps praise on Abhishek Sharma

Former Indian all-rounder and commentator Irfan Pathan has stated that the Indian opening batter Abhishek Sharma has scored the majority of India’s runs in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 campaign. 

Notably, Abhishek has accumulated 170 runs from six innings at an average of 51.5 and a strike rate of 204.63 with three half-centuries, leading the run-scoring charts. He has the highest individual score of 75 in the ongoing season.

"Abhishek has scored 35-45% of India's runs in the Asia Cup alone. His strike-rate is amazing and it is not easy. His ability to hit front and his base is impressing everyone. Everyone feels like they will buy the match ticket to watch this guy play. He is consistent and has become a six-hitting machine. He has played more than 30 balls only four times and has scored hundreds two times. That means if he plays a few more balls, then he will push the opposition on the back foot," Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

Furthermore, the former all-rounder also felt that Pakistani bowlers would look to target the opener, scalping his wicket sooner rather than later in the Asia Cup 2025 final. However, Irfan asserted that India has more batters who can take the explosive route. 

"Everyone will now think that Pakistan will target him in the final and there could be the law of averages, maybe he will not score runs on a few days. But his method should not change. If Pakistan think getting him out alone will win them the game, there are other players as well," he added.

Moreover, Irfan also heaped praise on the keeper-batter Sanju Samson, who looked in exceptional touch in the last Super Four clash against Sri Lanka, scoring 39 runs off 23 balls with one four and three sixes. Further, he also stressed on the Indian middle-order batters’ crucial performances. 

"The best thing in the Sri Lanka game was that Sanju Samson looked in good touch. If he is batting out of place but looked good, it is a god sign. Tilak Varma is also playing at four and not three but he made runs, this is a big positive. Axar also scored some runs. With Shivam Dube coming in the batting will be more lengthy. So it is not Abhishek alone, there are others as well. This Indian team has other players also who are solid,” he concluded.

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