Abhishek Sharma (AFP Photo)
During the 2015-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy, Abhishek scored more than 1,200 runs at an average of 109.09 and also claimed 57 wickets. He captained Punjab to the Under-19 Asia Cup title in 2016 before becoming part of India’s victorious Under-19 World Cup campaign in 2018. The IPL came at just 17, when Delhi Daredevils picked him in the 2018 auction. The 135 was only the beginning. During the 2025 Asia Cup, Abhishek established himself as India’s attacking force at the top of the order. He scored 314 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 200 and was named Player of the Tournament as India won the competition. In 2025, he became the first player to score more than 1,000 runs in T20 cricket in a calendar year while maintaining a strike rate above 200. He finished the year at a strike rate of 202 and smashed 108 sixes. Playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Abhishek produced a stunning 141 off 55 balls against Punjab Kings in IPL 2025. He reached his fifty in only 16 balls and his century in 40, hitting 14 fours and 10 sixes as Hyderabad chased down 246. At the 2026 T20 World Cup, Abhishek added another major achievement to his growing list, playing a crucial role in India’s title-winning campaign, including a blistering 52 off 21 balls in the final against New Zealand.
Abhishek’s father, Raj Kumar Sharma, a former cricketer, introduced him to the game when he was just three-and-a-half. The youngster quickly developed an obsession with batting and progressed through Punjab’s age-group system. His numbers soon began attracting attention. His career, however, did not explode immediately. Abhishek spent several seasons developing his game through domestic cricket and the IPL before finding the perfect platform for his aggressive style. Yuvraj understood the youngster’s attacking instincts and encouraged him to embrace them rather than become overly cautious. That philosophy eventually became the foundation of Abhishek’s T20 game. The numbers behind Abhishek’s rise were extraordinary. His IPL performances were equally destructive. The innings broke KL Rahul’s record for the highest score by an Indian batter in IPL history.