Follow UsWhat unfolded in the first innings of the second T20I against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 31 (Friday) was nothing short of extraordinary - or, for most Indian batters, excruciating. On a surface where everyone else looked lost, Abhishek Sharma produced an innings of rare composure and controlled aggression, single-handedly keeping India afloat.
India’s final total read 125 all out in 18.4 overs - a number that flattered them only because of one man. Abhishek smashed 68 off 37 balls, peppering the boundaries with eight fours and two sixes, while every other Indian batter combined managed just 54 runs off 75 deliveries.
After India lost the toss yet again and were asked to bat first, Josh Hazlewood (3/13) unleashed a devastating opening burst. Within five overs, India had collapsed to 29 for 4, with Shubman Gill (5), Sanju Samson (2), Suryakumar Yadav (1), and Tilak Varma (0) contributing a collective eight runs. Amidst the wreckage, Abhishek was 24 off 9 balls - a picture of intent and fluency in stark contrast to the chaos around him.
Despite being in sublime touch, the left-hander faced a frustrating lack of strike throughout the innings. Even during the lone meaningful partnership - a 56-run stand for the sixth wicket with Harshit Rana (35 off 33) - it was the latter who faced the majority of deliveries. By the time Harshit fell in the 16th over, Abhishek had faced only 27 balls despite opening the innings.
Still, the 24-year-old kept India in the contest, reaching his fifty off just 23 deliveries, matching Suryakumar Yadav’s record for the joint-fastest T20I fifty by an Indian in Australia, achieved at the same venue against Zimbabwe in 2022.
This knock was seventh instance of Abhishek reaching the 50-run mark off 25 balls or fewer, which is the most by any batter in world cricket, alongside Phil Salt, Evin Lewis, and Suryakumar Yadav, all of whom have played significantly more matches.
Moreover, his latest half-century was his sixth 50-plus score in 2025, making him the joint-most prolific Indian opener in a calendar year alongside Shikhar Dhawan (2018) and KL Rahul (2022).
Most 50+ scores by an Indian opener in a calendar year (T20Is)
6 – Abhishek Sharma (2025)*
6 – Shikhar Dhawan (2018)
6 – KL Rahul (2022)
5 – Rohit Sharma (2018)
In the death overs, with only the tail for company, Abhishek switched gears, smashing 15 runs off an over from Xavier Bartlett. But his brave resistance ended in the 18th over when Nathan Ellis trapped him LBW with a perfect yorker.
India eventually folded for 125, with Abhishek and Harshit being the only two players to cross double digits. It was also just the 13th instance of India being bowled out in T20Is.