Indian opening batsman Abhishek Sharma is on the cusp of etching his name in T20I history, threatening to surpass illustrious records currently held by legends like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Mohammed Rizwan. This high-stakes pursuit unfolds as India prepares to clash with arch-rivals Pakistan in the thrilling Asia Cup final this Sunday in Dubai.
Sharma had already turned heads prior to this tournament, thanks to his explosive performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he formed a formidable opening partnership with Travis Head for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
In the ongoing Asia Cup, Abhishek has been in scintillating form, amassing 309 runs across six matches. He boasts an impressive average of 51.50 and a blistering strike rate of 204.63. His remarkable consistency includes three consecutive half-centuries during the Super Four stage, with his personal best score standing at 75.
The young opener is now just 11 runs shy of breaking Virat Kohli’s record for the most runs scored by an Indian batsman in a multi-nation T20I tournament. Kohli set this benchmark in the 2014 T20 World Cup, scoring 319 runs with four fifties at an astounding average of 106.33, which earned him the Player of the Tournament award.
Furthermore, Sharma needs only 23 more runs to eclipse Phil Salt’s record for the highest runs by a player from a Test-playing nation in a single T20I tournament. Salt achieved his 331 runs in just five T20Is against West Indies in 2023, featuring two centuries.
Demonstrating incredible consistency, Abhishek has also equaled the record for seven consecutive 30-plus scores, a feat previously achieved jointly by Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Rizwan. Another strong performance in the final would see him establish an unprecedented new record.
His T20I journey this year has been nothing short of spectacular, with 588 runs accumulated in 11 matches at an exceptional average of 53.45 and an incredible strike rate of 211.51. This tally includes one century and four fifties.
Overall, in his T20I career spanning 23 matches, Abhishek has compiled 844 runs at an average of 38.36 and a strike rate of 197.65. His career highlights include two centuries and five half-centuries, with a top score of 135.