Anil Kumble Compares Abhishek Sharma to Virender Sehwag Ahead of IPL 2026
Kumble's Insights on Abhishek Sharma
Anil Kumble, the former captain of India and a renowned spinner, has drawn parallels between Abhishek Sharma's batting approach and that of the legendary opener Virender Sehwag as the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 approaches. Abhishek has accumulated over 400 runs in the past two seasons while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), boasting an impressive strike rate of approximately 200.
Blueprint for Success
"I liken him to Virender Sehwag, who aimed to hit every ball hard. Transitioning from Test cricket to one-day formats and then to T20, he learned to pace his innings differently. However, Sehwag maintained a strike rate of 140-150," Kumble remarked during an interview with JioStar. "Abhishek Sharma should consider his current strike rate of 200 and think, 'Should I aim for a strike rate of 300?' The answer is no; he needs to play a sensible game. If he faces 20 balls, he can likely reach around 50 runs. We’ve seen players like Sanju Samson, who, instead of getting out in the 40s or 50s, push deeper into the innings, reaching scores of 85-90. This is crucial in T20 cricket. We hope to see this maturity in Abhishek Sharma this season, which SRH is counting on," Kumble added.
Potential for Greatness
Kumble also discussed the qualities that elevate a good player to greatness. "Abhishek Sharma possesses the potential to become an exceptional player. Despite his brief international career, he has already claimed the title of the number one T20 international player. He exerts pressure on bowlers, but maintaining consistency with such an aggressive batting style can be challenging from a team perspective. India has managed this well with Abhishek, as other players have stepped up, which is essential for his success. This is why he thrives at SRH, where he enjoys the freedom to play his game."
Addressing Challenges
Kumble also highlighted Abhishek's struggles against off-spin bowling. "He has likely made adjustments regarding his performance against off-spinners. During the World Cup, he either fell to off-spinners or had to defend against them, but he managed to score a fifty in the final. To become a great and consistent player, it’s vital to recognize not only what you can do but also what you should avoid. Mastering this mental aspect will be crucial for his development."
SRH Squad for IPL 2026
The Sunrisers Hyderabad squad for the IPL 2026 season includes: Salil Arora, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Ravichandran Smaran, Aniket Verma, Abhishek Sharma, Brydon Carse, Harsh Dubey, Jack Edwards, Liam Livingstone, Kamindu Mendis, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Mavi, Pat Cummins, Amit Kumar, Krains Fuletra, Praful Hinge, Eshan Malinga, Harshal Patel, Sakib Hussain, Shivang Kumar, Onkar Tarmale, Jaydev Unadkat, and Zeeshan Ansari.