Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh lashed out at Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir for calling Abhishek Sharma a “slogger”, firing a sharp “wait and watch” warning ahead of the high-voltage India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup clash in Colombo on Sunday.
Harabhjan Singh lashed out at Mohammad Amir for his ‘slogger’ jibe at Abhishek Sharma
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The war of words erupted after Amir, speaking on a Pakistani talk show, labelled Abhishek a “slogger” and claimed he was not technically sound. The former Pakistan fast bowler suggested the India opener could be dismissed easily with the right plan, even going so far as to say that Abhishek does not know how to defend and has yet to be properly tested at the highest level.
Harbhajan, however, strongly rejected those remarks and defended the young India batter’s credentials in emphatic fashion.
“Come on — what am I supposed to say to that? He just gets up and says anything. If you call him a slogger, fine, let him smash sixes — but he’s a proper batter who has every shot in the book,” Harbhajan said.
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The former India spinner stressed that Abhishek Sharma is far from a one-dimensional power-hitter and possesses a complete range of strokes.
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The former India spinner stressed that Abhishek Sharma is far from a one-dimensional power-hitter and possesses a complete range of strokes.
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“He knows exactly where the ball is coming from and plays accordingly. He can go over cover, through point, long-on, long-off, midwicket — he has every shot. After that, you can’t label him just a slogger,” he added.
With the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup showdown drawing massive attention, Harbhajan warned that if Abhishek gets set at the crease, Pakistan could be in serious trouble.
“If I start naming real sloggers, some people might get offended, but I don’t want to create more drama. Calling anyone just a slogger isn’t fair. Abhishek is a top-class batter who has already proven himself in world cricket,” he said.
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Harbhajan then signed off with a pointed message for Amir ahead of the marquee clash.
“Just wait and watch. If Abhishek stays at the crease, he’ll remind everyone who he is. For the last four or five months, he’s already been in your dreams. If he goes big tomorrow, he’ll be in your dreams for the next six months.”
With tensions rising off the field, the India vs Pakistan contest in Colombo has already ignited fireworks before a ball has even been bowled.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Home/Cricket/Harbhajan Singh explodes at Amir’s ‘slogger’ jibe at Abhishek Sharma: 'Don't want more drama, just wait and watch'
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