Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan believes that in-form T20I opener Abhishek Sharma deserves consideration for India’s ODI setup, including a potential role in the 2027 World Cup. Pathan’s remarks come after another impressive performance by the left-hander in the opening T20I against New Zealand in Nagpur on January 21.
Abhishek continued his rich vein of form with a blistering knock of 84 off just 35 deliveries, powering India to a massive total of 238 runs in their allotted 20 overs. His aggressive innings laid the foundation for a dominant 48-run victory. He is currently the world’s No.1-ranked T20I batter and has been a consistent performer in the shortest format. In 34 T20I appearances so far, Abhishek has amassed 1,199 runs at an impressive average of 37.46, while maintaining a staggering strike rate of over 190.
"Abhishek Sharma should be in the considerations for the 50-over World Cup. Guys like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad are ahead of him at the moment. But imagine him maximizing the powerplay in a similar fashion to T20s,” wrote Pathan on X.
The competition for places in India’s ODI setup remains intense, but Abhishek brings a fresh dimension with his ability to dominate bowlers during the powerplay. While his List-A average stands at a modest 33.78 from 69 matches, his strike rate of 110.18 underlines his attacking intent. India’s ODI opening slots are currently occupied by Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad also in contention.
Following his explosive knock against New Zealand in the opening T20I, Abhishek candidly acknowledged that his range of shots is still evolving. The young batter revealed that he regularly analyses videos of his own batting and focuses on sharpening the shots he already possesses, aiming to maximise their effectiveness rather than overcomplicating his approach.
"I feel if you watch videos or if you watch your batting videos, you get an idea that where bowlers are planning to bowl to you or maybe where I'm going to play my shots. But it's always about me backing my shots because I don't have a lot of shots. It's just a few shots. I'm going to practise a lot about that, and I'll just execute it," said Abhishek in the presentation.
