Abhishek Sharma has been one of the standout performers in the Asia Cup 2025, dazzling fans with his fearless stroke play at the top of the order. The young opener has given India flying starts throughout the tournament, scoring 173 runs in just four innings at an extraordinary strike rate of 208.43. His explosive approach has been the backbone of India’s unbeaten run so far.
While Abhishek’s brilliance has so far been limited to T20Is, former India batter Navjot Singh Sidhu believes the 25-year-old should not be restricted to just one format. Sidhu strongly feels that Abhishek, alongside Shubman Gill, has the potential to become an all-format opener for India.
In fact, Navjot Singh Sidhu even compared Abhishek to the legendary Virender Sehwag, who revolutionised opening batting with his fearless aggression.
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“I want to see this Punjabi pair (Gill and Abhishek) in all formats,” Navjot Singh Sidhu said in an Instagram video. “Abhishek Sharma should be groomed to play all formats. If that happens, another Virender Sehwag will be born—I’m dead sure of it. When it comes to hitting sixes, I’ve never seen anyone better than Abhishek.”
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Abhishek made his T20I debut last year, and in just 20 innings has already amassed 708 runs at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 197.21. His record includes two centuries and three half-centuries, with a career-best 135—the highest individual score by an Indian in T20Is.
Not just Sidhu, but seasoned cricketers have also taken note. Ravichandran Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, showered praise on the youngster, calling his rise only the beginning of a long journey. “This is not just the arrival of Abhishek Sharma, this is the start of something special. He has a long career ahead and is going to blow the cricketing world apart,” Ashwin remarked.
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The veteran spinner went a step further, likening Abhishek’s potential to that of Yuvraj Singh, one of India’s greatest white-ball icons. “He can easily become India’s best white-ball batter. I think he will carry Yuvraj’s legacy forward. He is a phenomenal talent,” Ashwin concluded.
