India batsman Abhishek Sharma claimed he simply backs his shots “because I don’t have a lot of shots” following eight sixes off the center of the bat, a strike rate of 240 after facing 35 balls, a fifty off 22 balls, and yet another incredible exhibition of new-ball striking. Abhishek’s lightning-fast innings in the opening Twenty20 International against New Zealand capped up his incredible T20 boundary-hitting performance and helped the hosts win by 48 runs.
After India was asked to bat, Abhishek came out firing. After the powerplay expired, he smoked four sixes before hitting his first four. Abhishek claimed that completing some homework before a game helps him get in the zone because he doesn’t have much time as an opener to evaluate situations before he starts.
“If you watch videos [of bowlers] or if you watch your batting videos as well, you get an idea that where the bowler is planning to bowl to you or maybe where I’m going to play my shots,” Abhishek remarked during the presentation. However, since I don’t have many shots, it’s always about me supporting them. There are only a few shots. I’m going to practice a lot and simply do it.”
Abhishek claimed that power hitting was not the focus of his game, despite the fact that he smashed several enormous sixes. Since the 2024 T20 World Cup, Abhishek has been the most prolific six-hitter in Twenty20 Internationals among Full-Member teams. Sahibzada Farhan of Pakistan is the next greatest with 47 sixes from 32 innings, while he has 81 sixes from 33 innings.
“If you see, I would never do range-hitting because I’m not that strong kind of guy,” he stated. “I consider myself to be a timing hitter. Since we are currently playing all over India, I must simply monitor the ball and swiftly adjust to the conditions. I make plans for that the day before or, most likely, anytime I have a net session. I have to support it (my game) as well because these bowlers will be bowling here and they have strategies.”
Abhishek faced 35 balls, of which 28 went for runs and 13 for boundaries. He peppered the fence after the powerplay expired, unlike many other batters. In the seventh over, he hit three consecutive fours, and in the twelfth over, he hit back-to-back sixes against Ish Sodhi.
Regarding his strategy, Abhishek stated, “I don’t think it’s a high-risk [game].” “I wouldn’t say it’s my comfort zone, but I always want the team to start first because they want to use the first six overs, and I’ve been practicing it before the nets as well. And since all of the teams’ top bowlers often bowl first, second, and three overs [early on], it was always on my mind. We always have the advantage if I can score [off them] in the first three or four overs.
I’ve come to the conclusion that you need to practice a lot if you want to hit every ball or, more likely, if you want to play at a strike rate of 200 or something. Because all of these teams always have a strategy for me because, as of right now, I believe that pitching and bowling are more important than fielding [placements]. I have two to three days or even a week before the games, so it’s about the preparation I’m doing. I’ve been practicing a lot since I knew that these bowlers would push me, but I’m going to follow my gut.”
