Virat Kohli’s record for the most runs scored by an Indian in a calendar year in Twenty20 cricket is on the verge of being broken by Abhishek Sharma. In 2016, Kohli established the standard with 1,614 runs at an average of 89.66 from 31 games, including 14 fifties and four hundreds. Now, Abhishek is only 87 runs away from surpassing that milestone.
Abhishek has scored 1,533 runs at an average of 41.43 in 39 Twenty20 matches this year, including three hundreds and nine fifties. The left-hander will play in the third T20I against South Africa at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala on Sunday.
In the current India-South Africa Twenty20 International series, Abhishek Sharma has shown a combination of skill and inconsistency. He was cheaply dismissed in the first Twenty20 International at Cuttack, where India scored 175 for six and easily won by 101 runs.
Abhishek opened the batting once more in the second Twenty20 International at New Chandigarh, but he only scored 17 runs off 8 balls and two sixes, one of which put him over 50 sixes in a calendar year for T20 Internationals and put him in the elite group of Indian power hitters.
Despite a brisk cameo, Abhishek departed early as India faltered in the chase. South Africa posted 213 for four to win by 51 runs and level the series 1-1.
India’s campaign thus far has shown diverse outcomes. In the first game, their bowlers were dominant, and the batters helped put up a good score. But in the second game, India were bowled out for 162 in 19.1 overs while pursuing a stiff target of 214, exposing weaknesses in the chase.
India will need more reliable contributions from the top and middle order now that the five-match series is level, and Abhishek’s explosive batting still has a chance to win the game and the series.
