Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri has warned Australia about the threat posed by young opener Abhishek Sharma ahead of the upcoming five-match T20 series. Shastri said that if the left-handed batsman stays at the crease for a long time, he can single-handedly turn the match for the Men in Blue.
Abhishek played a key role with the bat in the Suryakumar Yadav-led team’s title win during the Asia Cup 2025 last month. The 25-year-old was named Player of the Tournament after scoring 314 runs in seven innings at a blistering strike rate of 200, despite challenging batting conditions in the UAE.
Abhishek Sharma has the ability to take away games – Ravi Shastri
Speaking to Fox Cricket, Ravi Shastri said that Australian fans are guaranteed entertainment when Abhishek Sharma takes the field in the upcoming T20 series. He said that once settled at the crease, the young player can dominate any bowling attack.
“He is a great T20 player. If he is in the team for a while, entertainment is guaranteed. Whether you are an Australian or an Indian, you will enjoy it. He has the ability to take the game away from you. You don’t want to see him there for too long because he can create chaos,” Shastri said on Fox Cricket.
This is where Abhishek Sharma can be very dangerous – Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri said that Abhishek Sharma is one of the most dangerous batsmen in T20 cricket. Shastri attributed this to his aggressive mindset and fearless approach. He said that Sharma can face the bowlers right from the first ball with confidence and broad strokes.
“His preparation, his belief in his ability, the range of shots he has and then the mentality of going out there and backing himself from the first ball. Right from the start, he will go after the bowling. That’s where he can be very dangerous, very explosive and quietly confident about his ability,” Shastri said (via the above source).
Abhishek Sharma is ready to play his first series in Australia
Abhishek Sharma is currently the No. 1 batsman in the latest ICC T20I rankings with a rating of 926. He scored a record-breaking 931 points during the 2025 Asia Cup, the highest in the history of the format.
The left-handed batsman has already joined an elite group of Indian batsmen with multiple T20I centuries. He also holds the record for scoring the second-fastest T20 century by an Indian, reaching the milestone in just 37 balls against England earlier this year.
Abhishek will be playing his first international series in Australia with notable T20I figures to his name. This young left-handed batsman has scored 849 runs in 24 matches at an explosive strike rate of 196.07, which includes two centuries and five half-centuries.
He has so far enjoyed 593 runs in 2025 at an average close to 50 and a strike rate above 200 in 12 T20Is. He can cross the milestone of 1000 runs in the shortest format during the upcoming series.
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