Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has hit back at Mohammad Amir for labelling Abhishek Sharma a “slogger”, warning that the young opener could once again torment Pakistan in the high-voltage India vs Pakistan clash on Sunday, February 15.

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Amir, speaking on a recent talk show, questioned Abhishek’s technique, claiming the left-hander was not technically sound and could be dismissed easily with the right plans. Despite facing criticism for his remarks, the Pakistani pacer stood by his assessment, adding that Abhishek “doesn’t know how to defend” and hasn’t been properly tested yet. Harbhajan, however, strongly disagreed.

Speaking to Vikrant Gupta on the Sports Tak YouTube channel, the former off-spinner said Abhishek is far more than just a power-hitter.

“Come on, what am I supposed to say to that? 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.

“He plays over cover, through point, can hit long-on, long-off, midwicket — he knows exactly where the ball is coming from and plays accordingly. You can’t just label him a slogger.”

Harbhajan avoided escalating the war of words further but made it clear that Abhishek has already proved himself on the international stage.

“If I start naming real sloggers, some people might get offended, but I don’t want more drama. Calling someone just a slogger isn’t fair. Abhishek is a top-class batter who has shown his quality in world cricket.”

He then issued a pointed warning ahead of the Colombo showdown.

“Just wait and watch. If Abhishek settles in, 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 there for the next six months as well.”

Why Abhishek Sharma is dangerous against Pakistan

Abhishek has faced Pakistan three times in his career, all during last year’s Asia Cup and has already made a significant impact.

In those matches, he scored 110 runs, including a half-century, at a blistering strike rate of 189.65. His tally features 11 boundaries and seven sixes, underlining his aggressive approach against the arch-rivals.

Having recently recovered from a stomach bug, Abhishek is expected to return to the playing XI for the Colombo clash and could play a decisive role in shaping the outcome of another high-stakes India-Pakistan encounter.