Dubai: Former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has thrown his weight behind young batter Abhishek Sharma after his explosive performance in India’s six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Super Four clash of the Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday. Sidhu, who is also a commentator, said Abhishek should be groomed across all formats of the game and even compared him to legendary opener Virender Sehwag.

Abhishek’s match-winning knock against Pakistan

Asked to bat first at the Dubai International Stadium, Pakistan managed to post 171/5 in their allotted 20 overs. In response, India chased down the target with 1.1 overs to spare, thanks largely to Abhishek Sharma’s blistering 74 off just 39 deliveries. His innings featured six boundaries and five towering sixes, leaving the Pakistan bowlers under pressure from the start.

Abhishek’s partnership with Shubman Gill laid the foundation for India’s successful chase. The pair added 105 runs for the opening wicket, with Gill also playing fluently for his 47 off 28 balls. The aggressive approach of the duo ensured that India remained ahead of the asking rate throughout the innings.

Sidhu’s glowing praise for Abhishek

Speaking after the game, Sidhu heaped praise on the 23-year-old Punjab batter, calling him a rare talent who can dominate in all conditions and formats.

“I want to see this Punjabi pair in all formats. Abhishek Sharma should be groomed to play every format, because if you play him across formats another Virender Sehwag will be born. I’m dead sure of it,” Sidhu said in a video posted on Instagram.

The former India opener added that while Gill’s rise as a top-order batter was widely expected, Abhishek’s ability to clear boundaries with ease makes him a special prospect. “Everyone always knew Shubman Gill was born to win hearts. But Abhishek, when it comes to hitting sixes, I’ve never seen anyone better than him,” Sidhu noted.

Credit to Suryakumar Yadav and Gambhir

Sidhu also applauded India captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir for their tactical acumen in the ongoing Asia Cup. He particularly praised the team management for backing all-rounder Shivam Dube in crunch situations.

“Bringing in Shivam Dube, full credit for that goes to our captain Suryakumar Yadav and also to Gautam Gambhir. This Suryakumar and Gambhir pairing is doing an amazing job,” Sidhu said.

The duo of Suryakumar and Gambhir has been at the forefront of a more aggressive batting mindset that has seen India dominate opponents in this edition of the Asia Cup.

Abhishek’s aggressive intent

After his innings, Abhishek Sharma spoke about the fearless brand of cricket he tried to bring into play against Pakistan’s bowling attack. He said he wanted to back his instincts and take the pressure off his batting partner.

“I have been working on my power-hitting and game awareness. The idea was to take on the bowlers early so that we don’t fall behind in the chase. Playing with Shubman makes it easier because he rotates the strike well,” Abhishek said in the post-match presentation.

Abhishek as a long-term prospect

Abhishek Sharma has been one of the standout performers in Indian domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League over the past couple of seasons. His adaptability and clean striking have drawn comparisons with some of India’s finest openers in the past.

With Sidhu’s backing and strong performances at the international level, there will now be greater calls for Abhishek to be groomed as a permanent member of India’s top order across formats. His ability to play fearless cricket at the start of an innings could provide the team with the kind of explosive starts it has long craved in Test cricket and ODIs, apart from T20Is.

Conclusion

India’s emphatic win over Pakistan has put them in a strong position in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2025, and Abhishek Sharma’s performance has been the talking point. With legends like Sidhu already touting him as the “next Sehwag”, Abhishek’s rise could signal a new era for Indian cricket’s top order. The Gill-Abhishek pairing now looks set to play a key role not just in this tournament but in the years to come.