Abhishek will haunt Pakistan again, warns Harbhajan after Amir’s ‘slogger’ jibe

A fresh India–Pakistan flashpoint has erupted off the field ahead of February 15 high-voltage clash, with Harbhajan Singh launching a sharp rebuttal to Mohammad Amir over his “slogger” remark aimed at Abhishek Sharma.

Amir, speaking on a recent talk show, questioned Abhishek’s technique, claiming the left-hander was not technically sound, struggled in defence, and could be dismissed with the right plans. The former Pakistan pacer insisted that the Indian opener had not yet been truly tested at the highest level.

The remarks triggered widespread backlash — and Harbhajan’s response was swift and unsparing.

Speaking to Sports Tak’s Vikrant Gupta on YouTube, the former India off-spinner dismissed the label outright, asserting that Abhishek is far more than a power-hitter.

“What am I supposed to say to that? He just gets up and says anything,” Harbhajan remarked. “If you call him a slogger, fine — let him smash sixes. But he’s a proper batter who has every shot in the book. He knows exactly where the ball is coming from and plays accordingly. You can’t reduce him to just a slogger.”

Harbhajan stopped short of escalating the war of words but made his point clear: Abhishek has already proved himself on the world stage.

“Calling someone a slogger like that isn’t fair. He’s a top-class batter who has shown his worth in world cricket,” he said, before issuing a pointed warning to Pakistan. “If he stays at the crease, he’ll remind everyone who he is. He’s already been in your dreams for the last four or five months. If he goes big tomorrow, he’ll stay there for six more.”

Why Abhishek remains a threat to Pakistan

The numbers underline Harbhajan’s confidence.

Abhishek has faced Pakistan three times in his career — all during the Asia Cup last year — and amassed 110 runs, including a half-century, at a blistering strike rate of 189.65. In those outings, he struck 11 boundaries and cleared the ropes seven times, showcasing both range and fearlessness.

Now recovered from a stomach bug, the left-hander is expected to return to the playing XI for the India–Pakistan showdown in Colombo. Given his explosive starts and ability to dismantle pace and spin alike, he is widely viewed as a potential game-changer in what promises to be another fiercely contested chapter of cricket’s most intense rivalry.

With tensions rising and narratives hardening, the stage is set. And if Harbhajan’s prediction holds true, Pakistan may once again find Abhishek Sharma looming large.