After a match-winning performance with the ball in Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals (RR), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) all-rounder Abhishek Sharma shared insights about his bowling journey. He credited his mentor, the legendary Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, for encouraging him and said that Yuvraj often told him he could become a better bowler than himself.
Spinners dominated the game, leading to Rajasthan Royals’ exit from the Indian Premier League, as Sunrisers Hyderabad secured a 36-run victory at Chepauk on Friday. SRH skipper Pat Cummins’ strategic decision to rely on spinners against RR’s power hitters paid off.
Following the win, Abhishek, who has taken 32 wickets in 103 T20s in his career, expressed his joy in contributing to his team’s success and securing a spot in the IPL final. He also mentioned his father’s influence, who was a left-arm spinner, and the valuable advice from Yuvraj Singh.
“I have been playing IPL for a few years, and my dream was to play in the final. Now, we are in the finals. It’s an emotional and inspirational moment for me. Contributing to the team’s cause is a cherry on top,” said Abhishek.
“My dad, a left-arm spinner himself, would be really happy. He has worked hard on my bowling. I knew that if I kept working hard, I could do something for my team. Since junior cricket, I have been bowling and getting wickets. I am really happy for this opportunity. It was not easy to get this chance at bowling. I had to prove myself to my captain and coaches since they had not seen me bowl much.”
“Whenever I discussed bowling with Yuvi paji (Yuvraj Singh), he always said that I could become a better bowler than him. I always kept that in mind. I think he will be happy that I contributed with my bowling,” Abhishek concluded.
Shahbaz Ahmed, who was awarded Player of the Match for his 18-run knock and three-wicket haul, praised Cummins’ leadership. “I love how confident he is in changing the bowlers. He is relaxed in the dressing room, allowing us to play our natural game without much pressure. This approach is working for us,” he said.
In the match, Rajasthan won the toss and chose to bowl first. Despite losing wickets regularly, SRH managed to post 175/9 in their 20 overs, thanks to contributions from Heinrich Klaasen (50 off 34 balls), Rahul Tripathi (37 off 15 balls), and Travis Head (34 off 28 balls).
During the run chase, Rajasthan also lost wickets frequently, with spinners Shahbaz and Abhishek taking crucial wickets. Yashasvi Jaiswal (42 off 21 balls) and Dhruv Jurel (56 off 35 balls) put up a fight, but RR fell 36 runs short, finishing at 139/7.
Shahbaz Ahmed (3/23) and Abhishek Sharma (2/24) led the bowling attack for SRH, with Cummins and T Natarajan each taking a wicket.
The final between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will take place in Chennai on Sunday.