IPL 2026: 'Looks To Be Of A Similar Level' - Irfan Pathan Draws Parallels Between Abhishek Sharma And Uncapped SRH Star

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has spoken very highly of new Sunrisers Hyderabad recruit Salil Arora ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Hailing from Punjab, the former player-turned-expert has compared his talent to the likes of other IPL stars, including Abhishek Sharma, Ramandeep Singh and Naman Dhir.

Following a tense bidding war with the Mumbai Indians, SRH secured the services of Arora for INR 1.50 crore. The hefty price tag for a 23-year-old uncapped player comes with a good reason. The right-hander had scored 358 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at an average of 71.60 whilst striking at almost 200. He also scored an unbeaten 125 from just 45 balls against eventual champions Jharkhand.

Pathan is super impressed by the prospect of Arora in the IPL and believes that his presence in the dressing room will also put pressure on the likes of Aniket Verma and Nitish Kumar Reddy to come good, knowing they can easily be replaced in the lower-middle order with Arora.

“Salil Arora. He comes from the Punjab cricket system and has already delivered strong performances, which is why he has made a name for himself in domestic cricket. Players like Abhishek Sharma, Naman Dhir, and Ramandeep Singh have come from Punjab, and Salil Arora looks to be of a similar level,” Pathan said in a video on his YouTube channel.

“He has been picked by SRH for around INR 1.5 crore as a backup player. So, if Nitish Kumar Reddy is not in form, or if Aniket Verma is not performing well, he can step in as a backup option.The good thing is that both the main players will also feel the pressure to perform because they know there is a talented domestic player waiting in the ranks,” he added.

In a team which comprises the likes of Abhishek, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen and Liam Livingstone, Arora could blend in effortlessly within the SRH camp.

SRH will play against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the opening game of the 2026 IPL season at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, March 28.

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