Abhishek Sharma brutally roasts "premium fast bowler" Shaheen Afridi after India's Asia Cup 2025 triumph

Team India opener Abhishek Sharma took an indirect dig at Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi following the recently concluded Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai. Abhishek also stated that he does not let a bowler’s reputation dictate his batting and aims to make the most of the field restrictions in the powerplay.

India secured a five-wicket win over Pakistan in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, September 28. The Men in Blue sealed the victory with just a few deliveries to spare. Abhishek Sharma, who played a key role with the bat throughout the competition, was named Player of the Tournament.

Watch: Abhishek Sharma Mocks Pakistan’s ‘Premium Fast Bowler’ Shaheen Afridi

During the post-match presentation, Abhishek Sharma stated that he had a clear plan for the powerplay and wanted to make the most of field restrictions regardless of the bowler. The 25-year-old added that he intended to attack from the very first ball, even against premium fast bowlers.

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“If you see, I had a plan (on adjusting to different surfaces). If I get spinners or something in the powerplay as well, I am going to utilise that powerplay. If you see any of the bowlers, even the fast bowlers, or any of the premium fast bowlers as well,” Abhishek told former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull.

"If they come, so I had a plan in my mind that I want to go from the first ball, no matter who the bowler is. That is going to help me give impact to my team, and that is what happened," he added.

Abhi's expression after the word " Premium Fast bowler " 😂🤣pic.twitter.com/kciHHQYy9M

— Sunrisers Army (@srhorangearmy) September 28, 2025

Abhishek Sharma Had a Stellar Asia Cup 2025 Campaign

Abhishek Sharma had a stellar Asia Cup 2025 campaign. He finished the tournament as the leading run-getter with 314 runs in seven matches at an impressive average of 44.85 and a strike rate of 200, including three half-centuries.

The left-hander from Punjab consistently gave India strong starts during the powerplay. He registered 30+ runs in six of the seven games, with the only exception being the final against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Earlier in the tournament, Abhishek and Shaheen Shah Afridi were involved in a heated exchange during the Super 4s match, following a six off Shaheen’s first ball. In the final, Sharma smashed a boundary off Shaheen’s opening over but was dismissed by Faheem Ashraf for five runs.

Wasn't Easy for Any Opener - Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek Sharma earned his spot in India’s T20I squad following an impressive 2024 IPL season with SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). After the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from T20Is, the left-hander became a regular opener in the national team.

Abhishek revealed that breaking into the side after the T20 World Cup 2024 win was challenging. He credited the consistent support from his coach and captain for helping him execute his game plan and perform well.

"Getting into this team after winning the World Cup wasn't easy for any opener. But if you see, we had a plan that we wanted to play a game, and we had to show intent from the first ball. So that was my plan, I worked really hard on that. And if you're playing like this, you need special support from your coach and captain. I think that was the one thing I was getting from them throughout the tournament, before this as well," said Abhishek.

Also read: Mohsin Naqvi shamed as thief!! BCCI secretary vows ICC action after PCB chief steals India’s Asia Cup trophy