IPL 2026 | ‘Bumrah is world-class, but Abhishek can also get a couple of sixes here’: Father Rajkumar Sharma

Jasprit Bumrah; (right) SRH’s Abhishek Sharma during a practice session at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday. Pics/Satej Shinde

Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) attacking batter Abhishek Sharma (380 runs) is the leading run-getter in IPL-19 so far. And when he faces the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium tonight, his father Rajkumar, wants his son to add a match-winning triple-figure knock, like he did at the same venue in a T20I against England in February last year (54-ball 135).

"I want him [Abhishek] to play like he does, scoring a lot of runs. I have come to the Wankhede Stadium after a long time and I want to see him repeat that knock against England here. I hope he does, but it's God's will," Rajkumar Sharma told mid-day at the Wankhede Stadium here on Tuesday.

SRH opener Abhishek Sharma's father Rajkumar at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday. Pic/Subodh Mayure

Abhishek, who has represented India in 46 T20Is, scoring 1438 runs with the help of two centuries, has scored a 29-ball 57 (vs RR), 68-ball 135 not out (vs DC) and 22-ball 59 (vs CSK) in his last three innings.

Batting against MI's pace spearhead Bumrah on their home turf could be a challenge for opener Abhishek, 25, who loves to go after the bowlers right from the very first ball. However, his dad believes he must treat the ball on merit against a bowler of Bumrah's caliber. "If it's a good ball, it's a good ball and Abhishek should play it on merit. If you play the ball on merit, you are bound to get good performance. Bumrah is a world-class bowler. But Abhishek can also get two or three sixes [against Bumrah] as it's all part of the game. Bumrah is like an elder brother to Abhishek, so we will see how that plays out. But it will make for a great contest," added Rajkumar.

Interestingly, Rajkumar, who has represented Punjab in red-ball cricket in his younger days has played at the old Wankhede Stadium. "I played an U-19 match here against Bombay [Mumbai]. It's a long time ago, so I don't remember exactly, but it was in the 1980s. I was a left-arm spinner and took seven wickets here," said Sharma Sr, who wants his son to excel in the red-ball version too.

"Every player wants to play Test cricket and I want that for Abhishek too. When the time is right, I'm sure he will get that [red-ball cricket] opportunity too. I want him to play all formats, have a long career and win matches for India. But, at the same time, he should always remain down to earth," concluded the doting father.

5
No. of wins for MI in their last six encounters against SRH

145.86
Abhishek Sharma's strike-rate against MI - his second-lowest against any IPL team after KKR

62
No. of runs scored by Abhishek Sharma in four innings against MI at the Wankhede Stadium

19.40
Abhishek Sharma's average against MI across 11 matches - his lowest against any IPL team