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Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has opined that opening batter Abhishek Sharma has emerged as a senior member of the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) team. His comments came after SRH\u2019s IPL 2026<\/a> clash against Delhi Capitals (DC), played on Tuesday, April 21 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.<\/p>\n Put in to bat, SRH posted a massive 242\/2 in 20 overs, with Abhishek top-scoring with a blistering unbeaten 135 off 68 balls, hitting 10 fours and as many sixes. In response, DC were restricted to 195\/9, losing by 47 runs.<\/p>\n Speaking during a discussion on his YouTube channel<\/a> after the game, Jaffer noted that the left-hander has become a more responsible player and his consistency has also improved, saying:<\/p>\n \u201cAnd now it seems that in this SRH team, he has become a more responsible player, almost like a senior batter. When he came in, he was young and raw, but after three to four seasons, he now looks like a senior member of the group and takes on responsibility. His consistency has also improved, which is a great thing to see.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n <\/template><\/p>\n The 48-year-old further stated that it was not surprising the way Abhishek batted against DC, adding that he does not allow spinners to settle, as seen in the way he took on Nitish Rana<\/a>. He said:<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not surprising to see such a destructive player because this is exactly what we expect from him. And when he plays like this, we know he does not allow spinners to settle. I think there was a phase, especially against spinners in the World Cup, where he got stuck a bit. Otherwise, he is a very destructive player against spin. And that is exactly what we saw today as well, whether it was the way he attacked Nitish Rana or the other spinners in the previous game.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n In seven games this season, the 25-year-old<\/a> has scored 323 runs at an average of 53.83 and a strike rate of 215.33, including two fifties and one hundred.<\/p>\n In the same video, Wasim Jaffer noted that Abhishek Sharma is a fantastic striker of the ball, while also highlighting his 141-run knock against Punjab Kings<\/a> (PBKS) in the 2025 season, stating that the southpaw single-handedly wins games for his side. He said:<\/p>\n \u201cOverall, he is a fantastic striker of the ball. And it is not just this century, he had already scored 141 against Punjab before, and today also he made 135. So when he plays like this, at almost a 200 strike rate in an innings, he is, in a way, a single-handed match-winner. It feels great to watch because this is exactly what we expect from Abhishek Sharma.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n With four wins from seven games, SRH are placed third on the table with eight points.<\/p>\n\u201cHe is a single-handed match-winner\u201d – Wasim Jaffer\u2019s high praise for SRH opener<\/h2>\n