Ashok Namboodiri
The first ball dispatched to cover for four was about timing and confidence. The second one was a six over long-on. It was about intent and control. The Indian team went out in the game against Pakistan not to negotiate but to dominate. And making that statement was Abhishek Sharma, the “Gen Z cricketer” — unafraid, expressive and keen to make every moment count. For Pakistan, who were counting on early wickets and discipline, this was a psychological blow of mammoth proportions.
For years, Indian cricket oscillated between cautious starts and power-packed finishes. Think about the World Cup in 2011… the template was stability at the top-order and power-packed finishers at the end. What Abhishek has done is to turn this on its head — you now look to winning in the first six overs. In a format where momentum is currency, Abhishek’s mindset is priceless.
He is not reckless; he is fearless. There is a difference. Recklessness courts luck. Fearlessness is grounded in preparation and confidence. Abhishek knows his zones, backs his power, and trusts his instincts. This is in no way like the pinch hitters of the 1990s like Romesh Kaluwitharana, who would take a gamble and shock conservative teams with his bold shots.
So, is it like Virender Sehwag? One may well ask. Sehwag broke through in the Tests and ODIs of the early 2000s when batting was more conservative. The difference is that in an era shaped by the IPL and T20 cricket, Abhishek’s aggression is expected and not unusual. His approach is part of the new normal.
During the Covid lockdown, Yuvraj Singh personally took Abhishek under his wing. Yuvraj told him bluntly that he wasn’t just training for IPL or domestic cricket but “for India.” Abhishek has spoken about how those intense one-on-one training sessions in Chandigarh changed his mindset from “talented youngster” to “future India player.” That perspective…that every net, every rep, every ball is about preparing for the big stage shows in the fearless way he bats today.
Ranked the No. 1 ICC T20 batter and with a strike rate in the 180s, Abhishek is technically tighter with cleaner hitting zones. In the match against Pakistan, his shots off the first two balls gave India the power of feeling liberated. It freed the dressing room, unshackled the middle-order, and rattled the opposition. His mindset is not that or worrying about losing early wickets but about putting the game beyond reach at the earliest. Abhishek’s two-ball salvo captured that cultural change perfectly.
In terms of areas of improvement, Abhishek is still at the “impact cameo” stage. He needs to prove he can turn blistering starts into long, match-winning knocks regularly.
Abhishek is the face of an evolving Indian batting philosophy, one where aggression is no longer a gamble but a calculated strategy born of preparation and intent. The days of waiting to settle in are giving way to a blueprint where innovation and early dominance define success. His fearless stroke play is not improvised slogging but the outcome of a system that prizes match-ups, data, and relentless practice. As India crafts its team of 2030, Abhishek’s role will be central: the torch-bearer of a style that seeks to seize control from the very first ball, signaling that the new Indian game plan is to dictate terms rather than respond.
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