RAIPUR: Abhishek Sharma has quickly established himself as one of the most formidable T20I batters in the cricketing world. Following a pivotal performance in India’s latest win against New Zealand, the left-handed batsman reflected on his game and the areas he aims to enhance. Acknowledging that he lacks a diverse array of shots, he emphasized his reliance on timing rather than sheer muscle to clear the boundary. This aggressive style, which keeps bowlers on edge, has proven fruitful for him and beneficial for the Indian team.
Since the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup, Sharma has recorded the highest number of sixes among full member nations, with an impressive total of 81 from just 33 innings. While he’s renowned for his six-hitting ability—exemplified by hitting eight sixes in a single match in Nagpur, where only seven of the deliveries faced were dot balls—he also excels at rotating the strike. This intent from the very first ball has translated into remarkable success for India, with the team never losing a match when posting a total of over 200 since Abhishek’s debut. They have surpassed that total ten times with him contributing significantly, including two centuries and three fifties.
His partnership with fellow opener Sanju Samson has produced remarkable results, with eight victories coming when both have started the innings and one of them scored a half-century in seven instances. Samson has also tallied three centuries during this successful stretch. In light of Shubman Gill’s recent struggles, the team management has decided to re-pair Sharma and Samson ahead of the upcoming home T20 World Cup, hoping for a return to their previous run-scoring exploits.
In the first T20I of the series, while Samson managed just 10 runs off seven balls, Sharma shone brightly, scoring an explosive 84 runs off 35 balls. The pair will have four additional matches to fine-tune their synergies, with the next encounter set for Friday at Raipur’s Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium. Having previously achieved a comfortable 48-run victory in Nagpur, the Indian players remain committed to their strategy, with the bowlers delivering vital breakthroughs to maintain pressure on the New Zealand team.
Despite a rocky tenure this home season, which included losses in the Test series against South Africa and recent ODIs against New Zealand, India’s confidence in the T20 format remains high as they set their sights on championship glory.