NEW DELHI: India’s left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma has emerged as the embodiment of the fearless, high-tempo style the team wants to take into next month’s ICC T20 World Cup, according to former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar. With India set to begin their title defence against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 7, Abhishek’s rise has added a new dimension to the side’s batting philosophy.
At just 25, Abhishek has become a central figure in India’s ultra-aggressive approach at the top of the order. His impact in 2025 has been significant, finishing the year as the top-ranked T20 batter in the ICC rankings after scoring 859 runs. Bangar believes Abhishek’s mindset and skillset perfectly align with what India want to project in the shortest format. “Abhishek Sharma defines the way this Indian team wants to play in the T20 format. A fearless and aggressive brand of cricket is only possible with a player like Abhishek Sharma,” Bangar said on JioStar. Former India all-rounder Suresh Raina also underlined what makes Abhishek such a dangerous batter in modern T20 cricket. “I think his bat swing, the way he hits sixes off spinners while staying in his crease, the way he plays through the covers, and the drives he hits off full balls all stand out. He uses his feet really well and is a strong hitter straight down the ground,” Raina said. Cheteshwar Pujara also pointed out that Abhishek’s ability to score all around the wicket separates him from more conventional top-order players. “He is a really versatile player. Often, we have seen that top-order batters are dominant on the leg side. But Abhishek plays equally well on the off side as well and shows intent from the first ball itself, trying to hit a four or a six. He picks the length really well and has a huge variety of shots,” Pujara said.
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