Abhishek Sharma is a prolific six-hitter, having cleared the boundary 114 times in 47 innings of T20 cricket since the beginning of IPL 2024. His tally is second only to Nicholas Pooran (181) during this time frame.
During the match against Lucknow Super Giants on Monday, Abhishek hit sixes four times in the seventh over off Ravi Bishnoi, which ultimately turned the game in favor of Sunrisers Hyderabad. Following the powerplay, ESPNcricinfo’s prediction for SRH’s win probability was 48.66%. However, after an expensive 26-run seventh over – the costliest in IPL history – their chances rose to nearly 80%. This sealed the fate of LSG and ended their season.
Despite missing Travis Head, who was in quarantine due to a positive Covid-19 test, SRH still demonstrated their aggressive style and potent strength thanks largely to Abhishek’s impressive performance.
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Hitting sixes carries a certain level of risk for many batters. However, Abhishek stands out as he has focused solely on mastering this skill – with or without Head.
SRH’s performance went swimmingly, despite Taide’s premature departure and Head’s replacement at the top. Abhishek contributed 35 runs out of the team’s total of 72 in the powerplay. However, LSG had also effectively utilized their powerplay during the day, scoring 69 runs without any wickets lost.
Abhishek displayed his excellent batting skills in the seventh, hitting four consecutive balls from Bishnoi out of the boundary. It was evident that Bishnoi, a wristspinner, had a strategic approach to dealing with Abhishek’s left-handedness. He cleverly kept his ‘wrong’uns away from Abhishek by using his unique angle from over the wicket. However, Abhishek defied Bishnoi’s tactics with his remarkable reach and powerful swing, much like his role model Yuvraj Singh.
Bishnoi was stationed at long-off, but Abhishek easily evaded him with his initial swing. This was followed by a powerful shot over long-on and then another one that sailed over Bishnoi’s head, resulting in a 50-run score in just 18 balls.
Abhishek made Bishnoi change his plan and pitch the ball on the stumps. He was prepared for the different line and length while standing on the back foot. His luck also played a role with Pooran missing his pull at midwicket. In just four balls, Abhishek completely shifted the game. His coach Daniel Vettori was not surprised at all.
According to Vettori, the team is accustomed to their opponent’s performance in chasing their target with ten balls and six wickets remaining. He praised the player for consistently displaying incredible skills, especially in facing spin deliveries. Once again tonight, the player showed exceptional performance against spinners and has an outstanding strike rate. It is well-known that he takes advantage of opportunities and is usually successful.
Abhishek was a standout player in IPL 2024, showing his prowess by nearly clinching a win against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In the powerplay, he scored an impressive 27 runs off Mukesh Choudhary’s bowling. This feat is rarely seen in T20 cricket as it requires the skill to dominate both pace and spin bowlers in just one over, something that only a few batters possess globally.
According to popular belief, a batter’s prime performance is typically seen in their late 20s or early 30s. However, at the age of 24, Abhishek has already elevated T20 batting to an extraordinary level. It’s unimaginable to contemplate his potential in the future.
