Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin Mohammed responded harshly to Amir’s controversial “slogger” label. Abhishek Sharmafollowed by a passionate defense of the young opener Fifty wins against Zimbabwe in T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash in the city of Chennai.
Speaking on popular YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’, Ashwin dismissed the former Pakistan pacer’s assessment and surprisingly claimed that Abhishek has a better bat swing than his legendary mentor Yuvraj Singh.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s fiery reply to Mohammad Amir
The controversy started when Abhishek registered three consecutive ducks against USA, Pakistan and Netherlands in the group stage of the tournament. Between the thin patch, Amir called the left-handed opener a “slogger”. and questioned his defensive technique, stating that quality bowling attacks would expose his limitations at international level.
However, after Abhishek silenced his critics with a 55 off just 30 balls against Zimbabwe – four boundaries and four sixes – Ashwin took to his YouTube channel to set the record straight.
“There’s a video of Mohammad Amir doing the rounds, he called Abhishek Sharma a whipper. I just want to make one thing clear: you can say anything about his game, but he’s not a bowler. He has one of the most enviable bat swings in the game today.” Ashwin declared.
Former India spinner Abhishek, who retired from international cricket in December 2024, went a step further by comparing his technique to that of his famous mentor.
“We all know that Yuvraj Singh is his mentor. He probably has a better batting ability than him. You can’t get a better batting swing than that. Whenever Abhishek hits the ball, it goes very far. So people can mistake him as a scoundrel. The only thing Abhishek is guilty of is showing intent to every ball,” Ashwin added.
Abhishek had a terrible start to his T20 World Cup campaign, recording ducks against the USA, Pakistan and the Netherlands – a run that was punctuated by a stomach infection that required hospitalization and led to significant weight loss. Namibia missed the match completely before managing just 15 off 12 balls in India’s heavy loss to South Africa.
However, against Zimbabwe on February 26 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Abhishek finally delivered the blow India had been waiting for. Opening with Sanju Samson, he reached his fifty in just 26 balls, laying the platform for India’s mammoth 256/4. His innings, along with Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya’s late blitz, proved crucial as India cruised to a crucial 72-run win to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
Aamir’s statement about his delicious expression for Abhishek
After the backlash, Amir clarified his comments, explaining that his comments were technical observations rather than personal criticism. Speaking after India’s loss to South Africa, the left-armer emphasized that he rates Abhishek as one of the best young talents in the game.
“I was talking about him from a bowler’s point of view. I was talking about his technique. People felt bad because I used the word slogger.” Amir told Pakistan TV. “By that I mean his technique is such that a good team, a bunch of good bowlers, can trap him. Look at the 14 runs he scored, all of them in one direction. The balls he bowled were bad balls. But when Rabada started bowling well, he didn’t realize that.”
Amir also sent a public message to the young Indian pacer, advising him to incorporate patience into his naturally aggressive game. “As a senior player, if my message gets through to him, I will tell him: Your technique is exposed in international cricket. If you can show some patience and play the ball on its merits, it will be better. He has the skills, but it depends on him how he uses them.”
Ashwin’s technical advice for Abhishek
Apart from defending Abhishek, Ashwin also offered constructive technical advice and urged the young batter to prioritize timing over brute force. “Abhishek doesn’t have to power his shots. If anyone talks to him, just tell him about the importance of timing the ball.” advised the veteran spinner.
This emphasis on timing coincides with Ashwin’s wider assessment that Abhishek’s natural gifts, particularly his bat swing, are world-class. The former spinner had earlier identified Abhishek as one of the two “puzzles” they need to solve to beat India in the T20 World Cup, along with the mystery spinner. Varun Chakraborty.
