Abhishek Sharma has rapidly emerged as one of India’s most exciting prospects in T20 cricket, characterized by his fearless approach and clean ball-striking. The left-handed opener currently sits at the top of the ICC T20I batting rankings, a testament to his meteoric rise in the shortest format of the game.
What distinguishes Abhishek Sharma is his versatility and ease against all types of bowling:
- Pace: He plays the pull and cut shots fluently against fast bowlers.
- Spin: He is equally assured when launching spinners over the infield.
At the international level, Sharma has consistently delivered eye-catching returns, maintaining a strike rate above 180 and an average close to 40 when given a sustained run at the top of the order, making him a vital weapon for India during the powerplay overs.
Irfan Pathan’s Assessment: Fearless Intent Meets Consistency
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan lauded Abhishek Sharma’s development, highlighting his rare blend of aggressive intent and consistency—a combination that is seldom seen among top-order batsmen.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan emphasized the scale of Sharma’s performance:
“The flow with which he is batting, the strike rate with which he is batting like at 190-200, and averages close to 40, you won’t find any other batter who is this consistent while playing in this style.”
The South Africa Challenge
However, Pathan was quick to point out that tougher tests await the young batsman, starting with the upcoming first T20I against South Africa. He predicted that opposition teams would now target him aggressively from the very first ball.
“South Africa might look to bowl outside off stump, or they might even go for the short ball in the first or the second ball of the innings itself. We have to see how Abhishek Sharma counters this.”
Pathan remains optimistic about Sharma’s future, viewing any aggressive tactics as a chance for growth:
“If something is being tried against Abhishek Sharma, that is better, because it will be an opportunity for Abhishek Sharma to counter that and improve. If South Africa try nothing new against him, then also it is fine, let it continue, he is batting really well anyway.”