Abhishek Sharma has managed a strike rate of 209.41 in this season of IPL, and the praise showered on him on Sunday came from none other than the premier bowler Pat Cummins, who confessed that he doesn't really feel like bowling to the dynamic left-hander, saying it's not an enjoyable task to bowl to him.
Abhishek has been a nightmare for bowlers throughout this season, and he even left his captain at Sunrisers Hyderabad, Pat Cummins, in awe.
The best example was his electric 28-ball 66 against Punjab Kings. Smashing six sixes and five fours, Abhishek led the Sunrisers Hyderabad charge in a thrilling four-wicket win while chasing down Punjab Kings' imposing 215-run target with five balls remaining.
"Abhishek is phenomenal. I'd rather not bowl to him. He plays with absolute freedom, not just against pacers but spinners as well," remarked the Australian speedster during the post-match presentation.
The 23-year-old, who represents Punjab domestically, has been a revelation this season, accumulating 467 runs from 13 matches at a strike rate close to 210, while smashing 39 sixes and 35 fours.
Cummins also praised Nitish Reddy, whose vital 25-ball 37 brought some solidity at No. 4.
"Nitish is phenomenal; he brings a lot of maturity to the game. He reads the game incredibly well and is a great fit for our top-order," Cummins said.
Asked about their campaign so far, Cummins said he was thrilled. "It's been such an incredible ride. I didn't know many of the guys at the start of the season, but we've played such exceptional cricket and had loads of fun. We've got a fantastic group of players," he said.
The win set up Sunrisers Hyderabad for a possible top-two finish, which would give them a second chance to make the final.
"We've won five out of seven matches here, which is fantastic. It's immensely satisfying, and it is thrilling. I've never played in finals before, and we're playing some exceptional cricket. I'm really looking forward to what happens next," Cummins said.
Abhishek said batting great Brian Lara was the reason for his form, elaborating that their association during Lara's time with the franchise helped him immensely.
"I've had some valuable sessions with him, and it's paying dividends now," Abhishek acknowledged.
Despite his fifty taking 21 balls, the slowest among the three half-centuries he's scored this season, Abhishek's aggressive intent remained evident.
His previous two fifties came off 16 balls against Mumbai Indians and 19 balls against Lucknow Super Giants.
"I'm enjoying a good phase, so I must capitalize on it for the team's benefit. I aimed to contribute, especially considering the challenging target today," he remarked.
"I've mentioned this before, during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, I had a clear plan on how to approach and dominate in the IPL. I'm simply waiting for loose deliveries, attacking them aggressively, and keeping the pressure on the bowlers," Abhishek concluded.
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