Making stupid and big statements before the media is not the first time for the Pakistan cricket team. A 22-year-old Pakistani pacer, Ihsanullah Khan, claimed that he could dismiss the Indian T20I opener Abhishek Sharma, who was the star player of the Asia Cup tournament for India, in just three deliveries. The assertion has caught scrutiny as Ihsanullah Khan has never previously played against Abhishek Sharma in an international match. The ex-pace bowler, who retired one day but then came back to play within 24 hours, only played four T20Is before missing time due to an elbow injury and due to not being picked to play.
Ihsanullah Khan statement on Abhishek Sharma
Yet, in a video that quickly went viral, Ihsanullah confidently stated that he could dismiss Abhishek Sharma in just three balls, insisting that the explosive Indian opener wouldn’t be able to hit him around the park.
“If I play against India and get to bowl to Abhishek Sharma, he will not be able to hit me. I will only need 3 balls to dismiss him easily,” Khan said.
Ihsanullah Khan Challenges Abhishek Sharma pic.twitter.com/HQiOwTFQrj
— Naqi Mustafa (@naqi_geo) October 9, 2025
Abhishek has been a thorn in Pakistan's side recently. He was the top run-scorer against Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup, scoring 110 runs across three matches. In a Super Four clash, Sharma smashed Pakistan's bowlers, scoring six fours and five sixes in a staggering display of hitting ability. All in all, he scored 314 runs in seven matches at an average of 44.85, hitting 32 fours, 19 sixes, and three half-centuries to accomplish those feats. He had one rough outing in the Asia Cup final, but given his dominance of Pakistan this season, the bravado in Ihsanullah's claims seems, well, more bragging than belief.
Pakistan has a history of making daring, unfounded assertions before competitions with India. For instance, prior to the Asia Cup 2023, former cricketer Tanvir Ahmed proclaimed with confidence that Saim Ayub could hit Jasprit Bumrah for six sixes in an over. However, the reality was that Ayub had a horrible tournament, scoring four ducks in six innings, culminating as the worst batter in the competition.
