Ahead of the clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, SRH’s all-rounder Abhishek Sharma shared insights into his cricketing inspirations, favorite stadiums, and team dynamics in a rapid-fire Q&A session.
Abhishek expressed his excitement for the IPL, likening it to a festival for India, especially with his family attending every match this year, which he finds particularly special.
Reflecting on his IPL journey, Abhishek fondly recalled his debut match for Delhi Capitals against RCB in 2018, where he made a significant impact with a quickfire 46 off 19 balls. Outside of cricket, he mused about potentially pursuing a career in business.
Abhishek revealed his favorite stadiums, including M Chinnaswamy Stadium, PCA Mohali Stadium, Arun Jaitley Stadium, and the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. He also shared his playlist preferences, featuring songs by Punjabi artist Sidhu Moosewala, which he finds motivating.
Expressing admiration for his SRH teammate Travis Head, Abhishek highlighted their bond as opening partners and how he looks up to the Australian cricketer across all formats. He also spoke about his cricketing idol, Yuvraj Singh, whose performances in the T20 World Cup 2007 and the 2011 World Cup inspired him to pursue cricket.
Abhishek shared his cricketing mantra for the season, emphasizing the importance of practice and learning from his father, his first coach. He mentioned seeking guidance from Yuvraj Singh and Brian Lara to improve his game.
In the ongoing IPL season, Abhishek has showcased his talent with 177 runs in five matches at an impressive average of 35.40 and a striking rate of 208.23, including a half-century with a top score of 63.