Abhishek Sharma put on same pedestal as Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers by England coach

England head coach Brendon McCullum showed praise for Indian opener Abhishek Sharma for his exceptional performance in the fifth T20I match. Brendon McCullum compared Abhishek Sharma's knock to some of the best in T20I history, mentioning legends like Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch, and AB de Villiers.

Abhishek played a crucial role in India's 4-1 series win against England. The left-handed batter smashed 135 runs off just 54 balls, hitting 13 sixes and 7 boundaries, in the fifth T20I. He reached the century off just 37 balls, becoming the second-fastest player to reach a T20I century, behind Rohit Sharma.

Abhishek Sharma is Putting His Hand Up as One of Those Players - Brendon McCullum

Talking about the knock, Brendon McCullum stated that Abhishek Sharma's innings was one of the best in T20 cricket history. McCullum added that Sharma faced a strong English attack, including bowlers consistently hitting 90 mph and a top-tier leg-spinner.

"We've seen so many players over the years in this format that have been able to do it - Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch, AB de Villiers - and maybe Abishek Sharma is putting his hand up as one of those players. First and foremost, the innings we saw from Abhishek is as good an innings as we've ever witnessed in T20 cricket," McCullum said to the media [quoted by India Today].

"He's not just doing it against any attack, he's doing it against four guys who bowl 90mph and an absolute gun leg-spinner. I'm very realistic that when I see someone come out of the telephone box and play an innings like that, sometimes you throw all the different plans you want at it but if he's hitting it like that, you really can't stop it," he added.

Abhishek Sharma Was the Series' Highest Run-Scorer

Team India posted a massive total of 247 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs, following Sharma's second century in the format. Shivam Dube, who scored 30 runs off 13 balls with three fours and two sixes, was India's second-highest scorer, while others struggled to dominate the England attack.

The Jos Buttler-led team was bowled out for just 97 runs, with pacer Mohammed Shami taking 3 wickets and Abhishek claiming 2 in his only over. Abhishek, who scored a 34-ball 79 in the opening T20I, was the series' highest run-scorer, amassing 279 runs at an average of 55.80 and a strike rate of 219.69.

Don’t Think You Can Play Any Better Than That - Michael Vaughan

Speaking about the young Indian opener on Cricbuzz, former England captain Michael Vaughan called Abhishek Sharma’s outstanding century one of the best T20 innings he has ever seen. Vaughan described Sharma as a "wonderful player" and said the innings was "pure and stylish."

"Wonderful player. I don't think you can play any better than that. That was as pure and as stylish as you could possibly ever hope for," Vaughan said [quoted by NDTV].

Also read: Sachin Tendulkar kicked aside and insulted as Ricky Ponting names best cricketer of all-time