"The Next Big Thing": Why Experts Are Raving About Abhishek Sharma

Once dismissed as a "flat-track bully", India's Abhishek Sharma has developed into one of the most destructive batters in T20 cricket. The 26-year-old left-hander underlined his rare talent with a blistering 113 off 38 balls against New Zealand in Wellington on Tuesday, an innings that propelled him back to the top of the world T20 rankings. Former India star Yuvraj Singh, Abhishek has become the face of India's aggressive new-era batting, combining a punishing strike rate of 196 with a sound technique that experts say sets him apart from his contemporaries. Veteran cricket writer Sharda Ugra said India has found a new cricketing idol in Abhishek, with stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli approaching the twilight of their careers.

"He is already the next big thing in Indian cricket," Ugra told AFP. "I think he has just caught everyone's eye with his consistency as much as his explosive batting.

"He is the new-generation superstar."

Abhishek's latest century against New Zealand, studded with nine fours and 11 sixes, also drew praise from opposition batter Daryl Mitchell.

"Some of that hitting was world-class, and that's why he is one of the best in the world at what he does," Mitchell said.

"You take your hat off and say, well played."

Abhishek's performances in different conditions have helped silence criticism that he can only succeed on flat batting tracks.

"Stop saying that he can only bat on a particular pitch," former India batter Mohammad Kaif said.

"He is already moving towards greatness in T20 cricket," Kaif added, while also calling for Abhishek to be given an opportunity in the 50-over format.

Born in Punjab, Abhishek honed his skills under Yuvraj's guidance during India's Covid-19 lockdown.

Yuvraj, himself a left-handed batter, was among the first to applaud Abhishek's Wellington masterclass.

"I can't make 100 off 30 or 34 balls. Well played, sir," he wrote on X.

In 71 T20 Internationals, Abhishek has scored 2,267 runs, including four centuries, at an average of 33.33.

He is yet to represent India in ODI or Test cricket.

'Not Slogging'

Abhishek's rise comes amid intense competition for places at the top of India's batting order, with wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also pushing for opportunities.

"Everybody thought Vaibhav was going to be it (the next superstar), but Abhishek has come and snatched that away from him," said Ugra.

"In the sense that he has created a template that is very hard to match around the world. You cannot easily find a player with that quality and consistency."

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt believes Abhishek's approach at the crease gives him an edge over many of his peers.

"It's percentage cricket involving calculated risks, where the risk element is lower," Butt said.

"That's because chances are taken after assessing the ball and the bowler's angle. It's not blind hitting and it's not slogging either. It's smart, well-thought-out batting."

Abhishek has steadily risen through the ranks after being part of India's triumphant Under-19 World Cup-winning squad in 2018 under Rahul Dravid.

In the IPL, he established himself as a star for Sunrisers Hyderabad after an initial stint with Delhi Capitals, forming a formidable opening partnership with Australia's Travis Head.

His popularity has also soared off the field.

Abhishek's boyish charm and growing profile have attracted several endorsement deals, making him one of the most marketable faces among India's new generation of cricket stars.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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