India national cricket team’s explosive batsman Abhishek Sharma was unable to set the stage on fire in the opening match of the T20I series against the South Africa national cricket team on Tuesday, December 9.
During the first T20 match at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, tall fast bowler Marco Jensen took a brilliant catch, due to which Abhishek Sharma was out on a low score.
Abhishek Sharma was out on 17 runs against Proteas.
Punjab left-handed batsman Abhishek Sharma is currently ranked No. 1 in the ICC men’s T20I batting rankings. He has emerged as India’s best batsman in T20I cricket in 2025 and is considered one of the best batsmen in the world.
His back-to-back exceptional performances helped him rise up the ICC rankings soon, and he has also become the batsman with the highest rating points in T20I history.
On the Australia tour, Abhishek Sharma played some attractive innings but was unable to establish his dominance. It was expected that the left-handed batsman would do so during the opening match of the T20 series against South Africa, but unfortunately it did not happen.
Abhishek could not hit boundaries from the beginning and then in the 7th over of the innings, Lutho Sipamla dismissed him.
The fast bowler bowled a length ball on the leg-stump to Abhishek, who slid inside the line and passed the ball over the fine leg ropes. However, he could not establish a good connection with the ball.
Abhishek hit it towards fine leg, where Marco Johnson came running and took a brilliant diving catch, dismissing the Indian batsman for 17 runs off 12 balls.
WATCH: Marco Jansen ends Abhishek Sharma’s innings with a brilliant shot
– Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) 9 December 2025
He is batting very well anyway – Irfan Pathan praises Abhishek Sharma
Speaking in a video shared on his official YouTube channel before the match, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan was full of praise for Abhishek for his T20I heroics.
He also expressed his desire to see the South African bowlers challenge the Indian batsmen, which will help Abhishek grow and become a better batsman.
“The flow with which he is batting, the strike rate with which he is batting, like 190-200, and his average is close to 40, you will not find any other batsman who is so consistent while playing this style. South Africa may want to bowl outside the off stump, or they may also go for the short ball on the first or second ball of the innings. We will have to see how Abhishek Sharma copes with that.” Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
“If something is being tried against Abhishek Sharma, then it is better, because it will be an opportunity for Abhishek Sharma to counter him and improve. If South Africa does not do anything new against him, then it is also okay, let it continue, he is batting really well anyway.” Irfan Pathan said.
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