For a 21-year-old, Abhishek Sharma comes across as a mature cricketer. It, perhaps, could be because of that quality he became the captain of his state team Punjab in the Ranji Trophy this year at such a young age. It could also be because of that maturity that he could handle Rashid Khan. Handled and how!

"Rashid is an incredible bowler and we give him that respect, but it's also the fearlessness of Abhi (that it worked for us)," Aiden Markram said after SunRisers Hyderabad posted a strong 195 for six against Gujarat Titans at the Wankhede on Wednesday (April 27).

"I think he committed to anything where he could swing his arms and he got hold of it tonight which was incredible to see. (It) took the pressure off myself and set the game up beautifully for us. I was actually discussing (that) I don't think it would be too easy for a guy to come in and clear the ropes, he certainly proved me wrong," the South African said of Abhishek, who toyed with arguably the best Twenty20 bowler in the world.

Not often Rashid ends up with pitiful figures of none for 45, his worst this season. For the record, it was Rashid's third-worst spell in the IPL -- 1/55 v Punjab Kings in Mohali, 2018, and 1/49 v CSK in Hyderabad, 2018, being the other two. It was to his credit that Rashid made up for his poor showing with the ball with last over batting heroics. But then that is a different story.

Abhishek's marauding innings may have settled some scores between a Sunsisers batsman and Rashid Khan. Few in SRH would admit this but Rashid's refusal to be retained by the Hyderabad franchise has not left him with too many fans in the management which was not happy with the way the Afghan star dilly-dallied over retention before finally saying no.

Abhishek gave little chance to the ace legspinner to settle down. A whack over long-on and a slog-sweep over midwicket stood out initially before he brought up his half-century, second of the season, with another smash hit over mid-wicket. By adding six fours to those sixes and his 65 off 42 balls became a classy knock that is rarely seen from such youngsters. It may have also helped Abhishek that Rashid did not bowl too many googlies, which he normally does, in the game. He tried legbreaks and Abhishek was up to them.

"Abhishek played exceptionally well. He is growing in confidence. His partnership with Markram (96 for the third wicket) was a critical one for us, it gave us a competitive total. It was pleasing to see him convert his starts into competitive scores and critical partnerships," said coach Tom Moody.

"All credit to Yuvraj Singh," father Raj Kumar Sharma, a former Ranji cricketer from Punjab who initiated him into the game at a young age, told Cricbuzz. "Yuvi has taken Abhishek and Shubman Gill (who was playing for the opposition Gujarat Titans) and they train in Mohali under him," revealed Sharma Sr. Some of the shots his son played through and over mid-wicket resembled the ease and quality that Yuvraj used to exhibit in his India days. "He owes his maturity and development to Yuvi."

Having come through the ranks and system, Abhishek has played a lot of cricket at the domestic level and that experience is helping the youngster. He had represented his state at the Under-14, Under-16 and Under-19 levels before graduating to the Indian Under-19 side with whom he won the World Cup in New Zealand in 2018.

Rahul Dravid refined him a lot at a young age, felt his father. "Abhishek owes a lot to Rahul Sir too. He spent months at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and Rahul Sir is responsible for his development," said the father, adding, "He should not settle for just the IPL and the Ranji Trophy. I will be disappointed if he does not make it to the India team." With the way the southpaw is going, it is unlikely the son will disappoint his father, going forward.