South African skipper Aiden Markram believes dismissing Abhishek Sharma early will be one of the biggest challenges for his bowlers when the five-match T20I series begins at the Barabati Stadium on December 9. Aware of the threat the young Indian opener carries, Markram admitted that Abhishek is “a big wicket” and someone who can change the game within a handful of deliveries.

Abhishek’s rise has been nothing short of extraordinary. The left-hander is currently the world’s No. 1 T20 batter with a record-breaking rating, and he leads India’s T20I run charts this year with 1,499 runs.

Among the top 150 scorers in 2024, no one even comes close to matching his explosive strike rate of 204.22 — a number that defines how destructive he has been at the top. Aiden Markram, who has shared the dressing room with Abhishek at Sunrisers Hyderabad, knows exactly what makes him dangerous.

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“He’s a great guy and an incredible batter. Whoever takes the new ball for us has a massive challenge ahead to get him early,” the Proteas captain said.

He also shed light on why so many young players today arrive in international cricket with fearlessness and a striking ability to dominate from ball one. According to Markram, the modern game encourages players to express themselves freely.

“These youngsters are given complete licence to go hard. If they come off, the team is instantly in a strong position. The game is evolving, and they are naturally adapting to that style,” he explained.

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With the IPL auction set for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, Markram was asked if the series doubles as an audition. He acknowledged that players in the auction might want to make an impression but insisted that the team’s success remains their primary focus. “If the team does well, individuals benefit anyway. That’s just a bonus,” he added.