86% of Abhishek's runs in the 1st T20I against England came in boundaries. ©AFP
Abhishek Sharma's approach towards his game has always been clear. Fearlessness and explosive batting have helped the 24-year old make rapid strides in top-level cricket. But his methods are also fraught with significant risk.
Abhishek, who made his India debut in July 2024, after a successful stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the last IPL, announced his international arrival with a blistering hundred against Zimbabwe in just his second match. His flamboyant batting earned him plenty of admirers, but he also endured a lean period after the ton, with a highest score of only 16 in his next seven innings.
With India boasting an abundance of options for the opening slot with the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad in contention, it was going to be tough to keep them out of the equation for too long. And with Sanju Samson also making the most of his opportunities at the other end, Abhishek may have faced a difficult decision: to temper his approach or remain steadfast in his natural game.
And he chose the latter. A 25-ball 50 and an 18-ball 36 against South Africa in the last two T20Is proved he was staying true to his way, and to further reinforce the belief in him from the team management, the left-hander came up with a dazzling innings in the T20I opener against England
