But he has also struggled at times, being dismissed for under-20s in eight of his first 12 T20I innings. With India having a host of top-order batsmen, all potentially hot on their heels and vying for the same position, the pressure may mount on a man who is still only 24 years old.
However, Abhishek said that his captain and coach told him to never change his intention, and that is what has given him the clarity to play cricket without fear.
“I have always thought of being a team player from the beginning,” Abhishek said at the press conference after setting up India’s victory with 43 balls to spare. “In India there will always be a lot of competition. [when it comes to selection] in our senior team. But when Suryakumar and Gautam straw Tell me to always keep my intention, that was a big moment for me, that when the team wants me to do that, then I can do it.
“As a batsman, it may cross your mind if you don’t score runs in 3-4-5 innings, but the way the coach and the captain have handled all the players, even when I haven’t done well, even then” Tell us: ‘we know you’re going to win the game for us, any game, just go and express yourself. “I think when the captain or the coach says this, you get confidence and you get your back.”
Abhishek has worked closely with some great batsmen when he was young and credits them for not only improving his batting but also giving him a chance to play freely.
“I think I’m very lucky in this,” he said. “I have been working with yuvi paji first of all. Moving forward, I had Brian Lara, who really helped me at SRH. Moving forward, Dan Vettori was pretty simple, he just wanted everyone to express themselves and I think that gave me the freedom to take my shots. Obviously with Yuvraj Singh, Brian Lara and even Gauti. bhai “Right now, they just want me to show my talent in the way I play and get behind me.”
Abhishek also revealed his preparation style for big tournaments and series, while giving a nod to India’s new batting coach Sitanshu Kotak.
“I think it happens only in camp, once you’re practicing for a tournament,” Abhishek said. “I try and want to face the type of players I will potentially face in a match.
“Special mention for Kotzy sir [Sitanshu Kotak] and Abhishek Nayar Bhai. They both helped me in the networks to find similar players. I always believe that coming into a particular match or tournament, I hope to get bowlers similar to what I will get in the match. Shot selection is very easy for me. “I look at the ball and react.”
Good start to the series guys! Excellent tone set by our bowlers and well played sir!! @IamAbhiSharma4 top hit’!! I’m impressed that you also hit 2 boundaries on the ground! #indiavsengland
—Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) January 22, 2025
On a good batting surface in Kolkata, Abhishek did not forget to credit India’s spinners for their job in strangling an explosive line-up like England to restrict them to 132, even going so far as to call Varun Chakravarthy a “game changer” .
“I think if you look at the last few series, the way Varun has bowled, I think he has changed the game for us,” he said. “When you have good wickets in the T20 format, you have to have that bowler who bowls very well. It is always difficult for other teams to pick him. Also the other spinners, Ravi Bishnoi and Axar. Bhai. “It’s very difficult for hitters to hit shots.”
Sreshth Shah is Deputy Editor at ESPNcricinfo. @sreshthx