Suryakumar Yadav hails Abhishek Sharma’s work ethic behind T20 rise

Mumbai, Dec 21: India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav has credited Abhishek Sharma’s relentless work ethic and discipline for his meteoric rise as one of the most destructive openers in T20 international cricket.

Abhishek, who made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in 2024, has quickly cemented his place at the top of India’s batting order. Since then, the 25-year-old has scored 1,115 runs in 33 matches at a staggering strike rate of 188.02, redefining India’s approach in the shortest format.

Speaking to the International Cricket Council (ICC), Suryakumar said Abhishek’s biggest strength lies in the unseen preparation that goes into his performances.
“I feel his strongest quality is the amount of hard work he puts in before the game—one day, two days, three days before the match. These things are not seen,” Yadav said.

He underlined that Abhishek’s discipline off the field sets him apart.
“No one sees what a player does in the hotel, the gym, or the pool. Everyone does these things, but I’ve seen him follow the process relentlessly, and he’s doing that really well,” he added.

Following India’s triumph at the 2024 T20 World Cup, the team has embraced a more aggressive batting philosophy. Abhishek’s fearless starts have been central to this shift, allowing the middle order greater freedom while putting opposition bowlers under early pressure.

Suryakumar also highlighted how Abhishek’s approach has influenced the entire team.
“He’s tasted success and understands what is required to maintain it going forward. At such a young age, he has understood the brand of cricket we want to play. He starts at the top and guides everyone, which has made my job easier,” Yadav said.

India’s consistency in T20Is reflects this evolution. Since the 2024 World Cup final, the team has lost just five matches, with Abhishek playing a key role in most victories. His performances have also propelled him to the top of the ICC T20I batting rankings, cementing his status as a backbone of India’s batting unit.

Abhishek is now set to feature in his first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as India begin their title defence on February 7 against the USA in Mumbai.

India T20 World Cup 2026 squad:
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.