Former India player Aakash Chopra has wondered whether young India opener Abhishek Sharma is the best T20 opener in the world. He added that the Indian opener, who took on Shaheen Shah Afridi in their Asia Cup 2025 clash against Pakistan, always bats aggressively as well. However, Abhishek smashed 31 runs off 13 balls in India’s seven-wicket win against Pakistan in their Group A clash in Dubai on Sunday, September 14 as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “He jumped down the pitch and hit Shaheen Shah Afridi on the first ball. After that, he hit him again, and then hit another terrific six. He thrashed Afridi. The guy’s name is Abhishek Sharma. Since he started playing, he has been a revelation. He bats explosively, but is he the best T20 opener in the world?” he said.

“He hasn’t played for long, has scored 30-odd runs in the last two matches, but when he scores, he jolts everyone. He makes the match one-sided in a jiffy. Whether he is chasing 50 or 200, or batting first, he bats in the same fashion, and he is absolutely stellar,” he shared again.

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However, Aakash Chopra added that Abhishek Sharma has the best strike rate among all T20I openers who have played at least 100 balls since his debut as well.

“Stats are incredible. Hold your breath, he has a strike rate of (nearly) 200. He has hit two centuries, one of which came against England, and two half-centuries. He is incredible. He has scored consistently at a strike rate of 200, and we are not talking about weak teams. He has played some decent opposition and his playing style hasn’t changed against them,” he said.

“Travis Head is in the second spot. He has played eight games. He has an average of 26 and a strike rate of 194. He hasn’t scored a century, and the sample size is half, but Travis Head plays the way he does. He keeps hitting. After that, Sanju Samson is in the third spot. Sanju has scored 417 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of 182 and an average of nearly 35. Phil Salt comes at No. 4. He has also scored two centuries. He has an average of 40 and a strike rate of 178. He might be slightly ahead when you see the combination of average and strike rate, but Abhishek Sharma is not lagging in any way,” he stated.

“After that, Yashasvi Jaiswal is in the fifth spot. Sanju is at least playing, but his name is not even in the squad. Yashasvi has played only six matches, but has scored at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 170. If three of the top five openers are Indians, you start feeling where Indian cricket has reached,” Aakash Chopra concluded.