Abhishek Sharma has 248 runs in 5 games with a strike rate of 206.66.
After smashing another fifty against Bangladesh, Indian opener Abhishek Sharma on Wednesday attributed his brave batting to hours of practice in the nets and plain hard work.
As India defeated Bangladesh by 41 runs to advance to the Asia Cup final, the 25-year-old, who is presently ranked No. 1 in T20Is, hammered a scorching 37-ball 75 that included six fours and five sixes. After his 74 against Pakistan, this was his second consecutive half-century in the Super 4s stage.
"I was just doing my job. I have said before as well that I do not think much (while going into bat) and go with the flow. If it is in my range, even if it is the first ball, I go for it and try to get the power play (going) for my team,” Abhishek Sharma said after being named Player of the Match after India’s win over Bangladesh.
On his approach against Bangladesh, he said, "In the few matches, I wanted to go (after the first ball). There are certain bowlers who want to go for a wicket off the first ball. In this match, because this was a new pitch, I wanted to check how it was doing. It was swinging and seaming. I always try to go with the field, because there are certain shots I back really hard. I see the field and then go for the shots. I am not someone who goes all-out like that."
Abhishek Sharma was coached by his father, Rajkumar Sharma, a former first-class cricketer himself, and his lesson was that “balls are meant to be hit.”
"I have done a lot of work in practice sessions—I feel that is the time when batters get time to work on themselves. I had a plan that if I had to play with such intent, I would have to practice really hard for it. When you play too many shots in the nets, there is are chance you can get out. It was in my mind not to get out while playing too many shots," Abhishek said about where his power-hitting comes from.
India has qualified for the final of the Asia Cup 2025 and will face the winner of the Pakistan vs. Bangladesh match in the final on Sunday.
(PTI inputs)