Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has delivered a scathing response to Mohammad Amir’s controversial ‘slogger’ tag for Abhishek Sharma, launching an impassioned defence of the young opener following his match-winning fifty against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash in Chennai.
Speaking on his popular YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’, Ashwin dismissed the former Pakistan pacer’s assessment and made the stunning claim that Abhishek possesses a better bat swing than his legendary mentor Yuvraj Singh.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s fiery response to Mohammad Amir
The controversy began during the tournament’s group stage when Abhishek registered three consecutive ducks against the USA, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. Amid the lean patch, Amir labelled the left-handed opener a “slogger” and questioned his defensive technique, stating that quality bowling attacks would expose his limitations at the international level .
However, after Abhishek silenced his critics with a blazing 55 off just 30 balls against Zimbabwe – featuring four boundaries and four sixes—Ashwin took to his YouTube channel to set the record straight .
“There is a video of Mohammad Amir doing the rounds, where he called Abhishek Sharma a slogger. I just want to make one thing clear: you can say anything about his game, but he is not a slogger. He has one of the most enviable bat swings in the game today,” Ashwin declared.
The former India spinner, who retired from international cricket in December 2024, went a step further by comparing Abhishek’s technique to his illustrious mentor.
“We all know Yuvraj Singh is his mentor. He has probably got a better bat swing than him as well. You cannot get a better bat swing than that. Whenever Abhishek strikes the ball, it goes very far. So people can mistake him for being a slogger. The one thing Abhishek has been guilty of is showing intent on every ball,” Ashwin added.
Abhishek endured a nightmare start to his T20 World Cup campaign, registering ducks against the USA, Pakistan and the Netherlands – a run compounded by a stomach infection that required hospitalisation and caused significant weight loss. He missed the Namibia match entirely before managing just 15 off 12 balls in India’s heavy defeat to South Africa.
However, against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on February 26, Abhishek finally delivered the knock India had been waiting for. Opening alongside Sanju Samson, he reached his fifty in just 26 balls, setting the platform for India’s mammoth 256/4. His innings, combined with a late blitz from Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya, proved decisive as India secured a crucial 72-run victory to keep their semifinal hopes alive.
Amir’s clarification regarding his slogger remark for Abhishek
Following the backlash, Amir had eralier clarified his remarks, explaining that his comments were technical observations rather than personal criticism. Speaking after India’s defeat to South Africa, the left-arm pacer emphasised that he rates Abhishek as one of the finest young talents in the game.
“I was talking about him from the point of view of a bowler. I was talking about his technique. People felt bad because I used the word slogger,” Amir told a Pakistani TV channel. “By that, I meant his technique is such that a good team, a bunch of good bowlers, can trap him. Look at the 14 runs he scored, he scored all of them on one side. The balls he hit were bad balls. But, when Rabada started bowling well, he was not able to figure it out.”
Amir also sent a public message to the young Indian batter, advising him to incorporate patience into his naturally aggressive game. “As a senior player, if my message goes to him, I will tell him: Your technique gets exposed in international cricket. If you can show some patience and play the ball on its merit, then it will be better. He has the skills, but it depends on him how well he will utilise them.”
Ashwin’s technical advice to Abhishek
Beyond defending Abhishek, Ashwin offered constructive technical advice, urging the young batter to prioritise timing over brute force. “Abhishek doesn’t have to give power on his shots. If anyone is talking to him, just tell him about the importance of timing the ball properly,” the veteran spinner advised.
This emphasis on timing aligns with Ashwin’s broader assessment that Abhishek’s natural gifts – particularly his bat swing – are world-class. The former off-spinner has previously identified Abhishek as one of two “puzzles” opposition teams must solve to beat India in the T20 World Cup, alongside mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
