'Bumrah A World-Class Bowler, But Abhishek...': SRH Opener Told To Play Fearlessly Against MI

Young batter Abhishek Sharma has rediscovered his batting mojo in the Indian Premier League 2026, powering his team, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s magnificent run this season. The 25-year-old is currently among the top scorers of the season with 380 runs in 8 matches and possesses a commendable strike rate of 212.29. His red-hot form has helped the Orange Army consolidate its position among the top four on the tally with 10 points.

As SRH arrive in Mumbai for another mouth-watering clash against five-time champions Mumbai Indians, the spotlight will firmly be on how their aggressive top order fares against MI’s premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. While Bumrah has not quite been at his intimidating best this season, his ability to control phases of the game

and deliver under pressure continues to make him a daunting prospect for any batter.

For Abhishek, the contest presents both a challenge and an opportunity to underline his growing stature further. Backing his son ahead of the much-anticipated face-off, Abhishek’s father, Rajkumar, expressed confidence in the youngster’s natural game and urged him to stick to his strengths.

“I want him [Abhishek] to play as he does, scoring a lot of runs. I have come to the Wankhede Stadium after a long time, and I want to see him repeat that knock against England here,” said Rajkumar to Mid-Day, referencing Abhishek’s famous 135* in early 2025.

About the Bumrah battle in particular, Rajkumar said: “If it’s a good ball, it’s a good ball, and Abhishek should play it on merit. If you play the ball on merit, you are bound to get good performance.”

“Bumrah is a world-class bowler. But Abhishek can also get two or three sixes [against Bumrah] as it’s all part of the game,” he continued. “Bumrah is like an elder brother to Abhishek, so we will see how that plays out. But it will make for a great contest.”

Looking beyond the ongoing season, Rajkumar also spoke about his son’s long-term ambitions. With competition intense in the longer format, earning a Test cap remains a significant milestone for any Indian cricketer.

“Every player wants to play Test cricket, and I want that for Abhishek too. When the time is right, I’m sure he will get that [red-ball cricket] opportunity too. I want him to play all formats, have a long career and win matches for India,” he concluded.