“Abhishek Sharma, the Yuvraj Singh-Groomed Star. Can Shake up the T20 World Cup ?
India’s rising batting star Abhishek Sharma has taken on bowlers in the last three T20Is he has featured in, showcasing fearless intent and clean striking against Kiwi bowlers. Amid the growing praise, one question naturally arises — is Abhishek Sharma ready to shake up the T20 World Cup for India?
A name in headlines since the U-19 World Cup, Abhishek Sharma has carried that promise into the senior setup with maturity beyond his years. From idolising Yuvraj Singh during his teenage years and later grooming under him, Abhishek’s batting reflects the same fearless mindset — taking the game to the opposition while thriving on big occasions. His bat not only scores runs, but also carries intent. Yuvraj Singh’s influence plays a bigger role not just in fearless batting, but also in understanding the right time to attack the bowlers. Abhishek has shown power-packed performances against pacers.
Across 35 T20 innings, Abhishek has scored 1,267 runs at a staggering strike rate of 195.2, numbers that underline his impact in the shortest format. His aggressive approach at the top has consistently put opposition bowlers under pressure, strengthening India’s powerplay.
Abhishek’s control over his shots and ability to observe the ball help him settle into position comfortably enough to hit the ball cleanly. He looks much more comfortable against spin in the powerplay, which is a significant advantage for the Indian team as they are going to defend the World Cup at home, where spin plays a major role. In the last match against New Zealand, he showed great control while hitting the maximums, proving that his shot selection is an X-factor for the Indian team.
The right aggression and control over the bat, along with watching the ball closely, give him the advantage of a few extra seconds to settle his position and put bowlers under pressure.
As an all-round option, Abhishek has also contributed with the ball, bowling in 16 innings at an economy rate of 8.61, adding balance to the side. Since last year, following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format, another Sharma seems to have stepped forward. India’s opening combination looks settled and explosive, whether paired with Sanju Samson or Ishan Kishan, while Tilak Varma’s return in the fourth T20I, as confirmed by the BCCI, only strengthens the middle order.
Former cricketers, including the one who trained him, never seem to get enough of praising his batting skills. Yuvraj Singh, during the last match, teased Abhishek Sharma for not being able to break his record of scoring a half-century in 12 balls against England in 2007. He tweeted, “Still can’t get a 50 off 12, can you? Well played, keep going strong!”
The commentators are always in awe when he is batting. Aakash Chopra has declared him the best batter in the T20 format in a recent reel with ESPNcricinfo.
Abhishek Sharma and T20 World Cup
Abhishek Sharma has emerged as a major advantage for the Indian team. He is standing tall at the ICC No. 1 ranking, despite only playing T20Is with his ODI and Test debut in India jersey is still pending.
Chasing down 155 runs in just 10 overs in the third T20I and over 200 runs in the second T20I in just 15.5 overs shows how dominant this Indian team has looked. The team appears like a pride of lions ready to hunt, offering each other stability and partnerships when needed.
With the T20 World Cup approaching, the Indian team is giving dangerous vibes. As the hosts, they have a clear advantage, knowing the conditions and being accustomed to the pitches. The middle order looks comfortable, and the batters complement each other well. Abhishek Sharma, along with Ishan Kishan or Sanju Samson at the other end, is set to provide a quick and explosive start. While both batters have a similar approach, team management may lean towards Ishan Kishan due to recent performances, as Sanju Samson has struggled for runs.
At No. 3, Tilak Varma is set to return after emerging as a key player in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan. His intent and batting skills have been impressive over the years. Suryakumar Yadav, India’s Mr. 360, has found form at the right time ahead of the World Cup. At No. 5, Hardik Pandya — known for hitting sixes at will and picking crucial wickets — remains a vital part of the squad, with memories still fresh of his dismissal of Heinrich Klassen and David Miller during the 2024 T20World Cup final.
Team India is further strengthened by explosive finishers like Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh.
