Why would an opposition team fear Abhishek Sharma’s pyrotechnics? Here’s a stat that could help us locate the answer. Abhishek’s strike rate in the Powerplay overs is an impressive 185.3. But even more of a significant factor is his overall strike rate, which stands at 190.92. Basically, here is a cricketer, who doesn’t just play power-packed shots in the first six overs of a T20 game, but even when the field is spread, Abhishek has the traits to land the big shots.
In that context, what could be the reason for Abhishek maintaining his astounding strike rate even after the Powerplay overs? Just do some number-crunching and you will unearth another amazing fact about the left-hand batter: His strike rate against spin ramps up to 207.5 in T20Is.
The first T20I between New Zealand and India further set the narrative for Abhishek’s supreme abilities versus spin. While facing Ish Sodhi, he aggregated 24 runs off 10 deliveries, and 15 off 5 deliveries while facing Mitchell Santner. To summarise, the bowlers have no respite while being up against the Indian dasher.
At the same time, Abhishek’s game is also a connoisseur’s delight. It is mainly due the massive arc of his bat-swing and the high bat-lift. The wrists then get uncocked, and for him to employ a small back-and-across movement or an attempt to manufacture room. To be successful with such a high-risk method, you don’t just need gift-wrapped skills but also fearlessness. And the kind of bravado on display, every single time that he holds a bat, is what makes Abhishek a connoisseur’s delight.
Abhishek has his fair share of detractors, who might end up criticising his technique. There is a school of thought that he struggles against pace bowlers who tuck him up for room with hard length or slower short offerings. Some others might point out that he is only a one-format player as his high-risk game isn’t suited to other formats.
Logic says Abhishek should continue to trust his methods, as it has worked for him over a period of time. The kind of player who can break T20 games with his power-hitting. From India’s perspective, may his game burgeon brightly in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
