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India National Cricket Team opening batter Abhishek Sharma has taken the cricket world by storm after smashing a record century in just 30 balls in the third and final T20I against Afghanistan. And Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya believes that Abhishek Sharma’s achievement is the result of a strong combination of natural talent and hard work.
The former Sri Lanka captain and coach also praised the overall standard of Indian cricket and explained why Indian players continue to perform at a high level across all three formats. Earlier, Former India selector sends slams Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi over overseas struggles.
Abhishek Sharma’s record-breaking knock stuns Sanath Jayasuriya
Sanath Jayasuriya admitted that it is not easy to play for India in the first place, and then playing such brutal innings is just out of this world, as he hailed Abhishek Sharma’s recent record-breaking century against Afghanistan in the final T20I in Delhi on September 17.
The left-handed batter’s breathtaking knock of 108 runs off 34 balls included 9 fours and 11 sixes. It is the fastest T20I century ever scored by a player from a Test-playing nation. And the Sri Lankan great credited Abhishek Sharma’s talent and hard work for this incredible achievement.
VIDEO | Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya, speaking about Abhishek Sharma's recent record-breaking 30-ball century against Afghanistan in the third T20I, said, "It's very difficult. It's a different kind of talent to work hard and play for your country. It's a… pic.twitter.com/Ub840BDbnO
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 20, 2026
Sanath Jayasuriya was quoted as saying by PTI, "It's very difficult. It's not very easy. It's a different kind of talent to work hard and play for your country. It's a combination of talent and hard work. Every cricketer has their own talent, but they also need to work hard in practice, maintain discipline, and stay committed to their training.”
'Indian players work hard'
Jayasuriya also pointed out that playing for India is never easy because the competition for places is extremely high and a couple of poor performances can put a player’s place under pressure. Notably, Abhishek was also struggling for runs before the Afghanistan series.
He added, “In India, the competition is extremely high, with several players always waiting for an opportunity. If a player does not perform, someone else can take their place. That is why the players work very hard, train seriously, and try to perform at their best. This is how it should be.”
Sanath Jayasuriya opens up on India’s all-format dominance
The former Sri Lanka coach also highlighted the tough challenge of regularly playing Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. He noted that managing the workload across all three formats is challenging, as players need to take proper care of their bodies while dealing with a packed cricket schedule.
Despite the pressure and workload, Jayasuriya believes that the Indian players remain highly motivated because of their passion for representing the country. He feels this combination of talent, hard work, discipline, and competition has helped India produce players capable of performing at the highest level across the formats, just like the dominant Australians.
Jayasuriya added, “They tend to look after their body, and the waste is so much, but still they work very hard. Their passion is there to play your country. So that's why most of the players are doing well, and they want to represent the country.” Amid this, Mohammad Kaif questions Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel.
Sanath Jayasuriya backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for bright India future
Meanwhile, Sanath Jayasuriya believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has a bright future with India. The former Sri Lanka opener feels the young batter should be given enough time, opportunities, and space to develop without putting too much pressure on him.
Jayasuriya also pointed out that India already has strong competition for the opening spots, with players like Abhishek Sharma in the mix. He feels Vaibhav will have to wait for his opportunity, but when it comes, he can make the most of it.
The Sri Lankan legend signed off by saying, “He's a future, a future for India. He has a lot of time. So, give him the opportunity, give him the space for him to do well, and he will do well. Let him play. When they get the opportunity, he’ll perform.”
