Dragging himself back to his feet after a run-out, Abhishek Sharma walked off with a smile. A third T20I century seemed within reach, but an error in judgment denied him the milestone. Yet, he chose to leave the field not with frustration but with calmness, a trait that has quickly become his trademark. In that very composure, mixed with unshakable aggression at the crease, lies a reminder of another batting maverick — Virender Sehwag.
While India sealed their place in the Asia Cup 2025 final with a convincing victory over Bangladesh, Abhishek’s 75 off 37 balls once again showcased why many believe he is the modern-day echo of Sehwag’s batting genius.
Sehwag’s Spirit in a New Avatar
Virender Sehwag was never about footwork artistry or textbook elegance. His game revolved around simplicity — “see ball, hit ball.” Abhishek Sharma embodies that same essence. He strips batting of unnecessary complexity, relying instead on clarity of vision and instinctive stroke-making.
Like Sehwag, Abhishek shuts out the noise, brushes off distractions, and views the ball for what it is — a challenge to be met with power and timing. His first impulse is to score, usually down the ground or through the covers. Against Bangladesh, he blasted 50 of his 76 runs through off-side strokes, a wagon wheel dominated by clean, classical yet destructive hitting.
Natural Power, Not Manufactured Muscle
Modern T20 openers often train relentlessly to become power-hitters. But Abhishek doesn’t look like someone molded in nets to swing big. He seems born with it. He doesn’t possess the raw shoulders of Phil Salt, the bulging forearms of Jos Buttler, or the unconventional wrists of Suryakumar Yadav. Instead, he has vision — the rare ability to pick length early and react in the blink of an eye.
One stroke against Mustafizur Rahman epitomized this. A quicker delivery angled into the body, the kind most would nudge through mid-off. Abhishek got under it with grace and simply lofted it over long-on, making the seasoned bowler look ordinary. That ability to redefine “safe strokes” is pure Sehwag territory.
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The Storm Before Opponents Can Blink
Like Sehwag, Abhishek doesn’t let bowlers settle. He can look subdued for a few balls, but when the onslaught begins, it’s almost cinematic. Against Bangladesh, he was 9 off 9 deliveries, seemingly in a quiet start. Then came the storm — 39 runs in just 11 balls. India went from 17/0 in 3 overs to 72/0 in six, completely dismantling Bangladesh’s plans in the powerplay.
Spectators didn’t even get enough time to replay his shots in their minds; such was the tempo. By the time he departed, the job was already done. Like Sehwag in his prime, Abhishek leaves behind the illusion that batting conditions were easier than they actually were.
Game Awareness Beyond the Powerplay
What makes Abhishek stand out is not just his raw aggression but his maturity beyond it. After India lost Shubman Gill and Shivam Dube in quick succession, he toned down slightly, focusing on strike rotation while still maintaining a brisk tempo. He scored 29 off 18 post-powerplay, showing adaptability without losing his natural flow.
Suryakumar Yadav praised this quality recently:
“As he passes the powerplay, he can still bat the same way he bats in the powerplay. But the way he analyses the situation post power play, what is required of him, what bowlers are going to bowl, that’s a plus point for him.”
This balance between explosiveness and awareness is what makes Abhishek a special talent, and a genuine heir to Sehwag’s legacy.
The Frightening Ambition Ahead
In 21 T20I innings so far, Abhishek Sharma has faced 30-plus balls only four times — and two of those ended in hundreds. His average of 37.28 coupled with a staggering strike rate of 197.72 makes him one of the most dangerous openers in the format. But what’s scarier for opposition bowlers is his ambition: he wants to face more deliveries, to influence games for longer stretches.
If he manages to combine his natural flair with deeper innings, he could become as fearsome as Sehwag was in his era — someone bowlers dreaded even before he took guard.
The Real Successor
Indian cricket has seen many aggressive openers after Sehwag, but few carried his aura of inevitability — the sense that a boundary storm could arrive at any moment. Abhishek Sharma, with his free-spirited approach, natural hitting, and unshakable calm, fits that description better than anyone else in recent memory.
Against Bangladesh, he once again proved he is not just a promising youngster but a generational talent. For fans who have long yearned for a Sehwag-like presence at the top of the order, Abhishek might just be the long-awaited answer.
