Abhishek Sharma’s meteoric rise in T20 cricket, earning him the top spot among batsmen, is largely attributed to the influence of Pat Cummins and Travis Head. Sharma credits their approach within the Sunrisers Hyderabad team for reshaping his batting philosophy. He explained that Cummins fostered an environment where batsmen were encouraged to attack fearlessly, irrespective of the game situation.
In an interview, Sharma recounted how Cummins would instruct batsmen to target specific bowlers and aim for aggressive scoring. This mentality, prioritizing an attacking approach over cautious play, has been pivotal in Sharma’s high strike rate and aggressive batting style. The advice from Cummins was to never be afraid of getting out while trying to score runs, even if the team was struggling. This approach is a stark contrast to a more conservative mindset, encouraging batsmen to go for big hits from the first ball.
This shift in mindset, heavily influenced by the Australian players, has translated into remarkable performances for Sharma. His impressive strike rate in both IPL and T20 International matches demonstrates the effectiveness of the aggressive approach. He showcased his talent in the Asia Cup, scoring 314 runs at a strike rate of 200 and an average of 45, earning him the Player of the Series award. There is anticipation that Sharma will be included in the ODI team, potentially for the upcoming series against Australia.