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STUMP VISION OCTOBER 03, 2025 | The Indian Eye 43

Abhishek Sharma: India’s New Powerplay

Maestro Poised for ODI Stardom

With explosive knocks and a fearless mindset, Abhishek Sharma has emerged as India’s most exciting

young batting talent, and his red-hot Asia Cup form may soon earn him a spot in the ODI squad

OUR BUREAU ready being talked about as one of the
greatest T20 innings on Indian soil.
Dubai
ricket is a sport built on tim- The next logical step?
ing—not just with the bat, but The ODI team.
Calso in careers. For Abhishek
Sharma, the timing seems perfect. hile India has a solid top
After a sensational run in the Asia order in ODIs, the post-
Cup 2025, the 24-year-old opener has WWorld Cup era demands
not only silenced doubters but also evolution. Players like Rohit Sharma
placed himself firmly in India’s future and Virat Kohli are in the twilight of
plans across formats, including the their careers, and selectors are active-
One Day Internationals (ODIs). ly looking for dynamic players who
On September 25, in a crucial can adapt to the fast-paced demands
Super Four stage clash against Ban- of modern 50-over cricket. Abhishek
gladesh, Abhishek lit up the evening fits that mold perfectly.
with a fiery 37-ball 75, studded with His aggressive approach in the
six boundaries and five towering six- first ten overs can mirror what En-
es. Though India’s total of 168 was gland’s Jason Roy or Australia’s Tra-
slightly below par on paper, the ag- vis Head bring to the ODI format—a
gressive foundation laid by Abhishek fearless brand of cricket that sets the
ensured that bowlers had enough tone early. And with the 2027 ODI
to defend. India won the match by World Cup on the horizon, groom-
41 runs, thanks to a clinical perfor- ing someone like Abhishek for the
mance from spinners Kuldeep Yadav longer white-ball format seems like a
and Varun Chakravarthy—but it was prudent move.
Abhishek who walked away with his Kaif also underlined how
third Player of the Match award in Abhishek’s ability to turn a slow start
the tournament. into a game-defining inning is a rare
Former India cricketer Moham- skill. “He was 9 off 9, struggling. But
med Kaif couldn’t hold back his ad- then he smashed 66 runs in 28 balls.
miration. Speaking on his YouTube Even on his bad days, he can turn a
channel, Kaif hailed Abhishek as a match around in a single over.”
“future superstar,” even going as far That ability to shift gears, to trust
as to say: his instincts, and to back his stroke-
“He can even hit six sixes in an play even when the odds are against
over. The range of shots that he has, him—that’s what separates good
the mental power, and understand- players from great ones.
ing of the game—he’s already a As India eyes a generational
game-changer during the powerplay.” shift, players like Abhishek Sharma
Kaif’s words aren’t just high offer a glimpse into a bold, aggres-
praise—they’re backed by numbers. sive future. He’s not just a T20 sen-
In the ongoing Asia Cup, Abhishek Abhishek Sharma hits a six in an Asia Cup match sation; he’s a player who could define
has scored 248 runs in five innings India’s white-ball cricket in the years
at an average of 49.60 and an as- happen overnight. His IPL strike Fast-forward to 2025, and the to come.
tonishing strike rate of 206.66. In a rate hovered above 140 consistent- answer is emphatic. And if Kaif’s prediction comes
format where momentum and intent ly, and his improved shot selection true, and Abhishek indeed hits six six-
are everything, Abhishek’s high- and fitness helped him transition n 10 T20I innings this year, es in an over someday, it won’t be just
risk, high-reward approach has con- seamlessly into the international Abhishek has amassed 527 runs another highlight—it’ll be a moment
sistently given India blazing starts. T20 setup. After a century against Iat a jaw-dropping strike rate of that cricketing folklore is built on.
Paired with Shubman Gill at the top, Zimbabwe in only his second T20I, 213.36 and an average of 52.70. These For now, though, all eyes are on
the left-right combination has be- expectations soared. But a few ear- aren’t just good numbers—they’re the selectors. Because if Abhishek’s
come a nightmare for bowlers in the ly failures had critics doubting if generational. His brutal 135 off 54 bat keeps speaking this loudly, ignor-
first six overs. Abhishek could handle the pres- balls against England at the Wank- ing him for the ODI setup won’t be
But this kind of form didn’t sure of international cricket. hede, with 12 sixes and 9 fours, is al- an option—it’ll be a mistake.

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