Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif has showered praise on rising India opener Abhishek Sharma, calling him a rare and consistent match-winner in T20 cricket and drawing comparisons with Chris Gayle. Kaif’s comments came after Sharma’s explosive performance in the third T20I against New Zealand, where the 25-year-old scored an unbeaten 68 off just 20 balls, helping India secure a 3–0 lead in the ongoing five-match series.
Sharma, who has amassed 152 runs from three matches at an average of 76.00 and a staggering strike rate of 271.43, has impressed with his aggressive yet consistent batting style. Kaif explained that unlike most power-hitters who need time to settle, Sharma attacks from the very first delivery, often producing match-defining innings even with limited balls faced.
“Batters like this are usually inconsistent. One good innings, then a few failures. But look at Abhishek’s style. He proves himself in every match. Even if he faces just 12–14 balls, he scores 60–70 runs. That makes him a match-winner,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
Sharma’s innings featured seven fours and five sixes, forming an unbeaten 102-run partnership with captain Suryakumar Yadav, who contributed 57 off 26 balls. With 1,267 runs in 36 T20Is at an average of 38.39 and a strike rate of 195.22, including eight fifties and two centuries, Sharma is emerging as a dependable destroyer at the top of India’s T20 lineup. Kaif believes Sharma’s combination of fearlessness, consistency, and strategic aggression could make him one of the premier T20 power-hitters in the world.