News
Abhishek Sharma SHATTERS Mentor Yuvraj’s Record In Explosive Cameo vs Pakistan
Follow UsNo batter in history has scored 500+ T20I runs at a higher strike rate than Abhishek
Abhishek Sharma is the number one ranked T20I batter in the world, and the rankings didn’t lie today in the Asia Cup 2025 clash against Pakistan in Dubai as the left-hander played an explosive cameo, smashing 31 off just 13 balls.
128 was all India needed to chase after restricting Pakistan to 127/9, and Abhishek made a statement in the very first over of the chase, smashing the first two balls bowled by Shaheen Afridi for four and six respectively.
He collected another six and three more fours in his next 11 balls, before perishing trying to take on Saim Ayub. The left-hander finished with a strike rate of 238.46.
This was a typical Abhishek cameo that the world has been used to; still, it turned out to be a ‘one of a kind knock’ in the bigger context.
For this was the fastest ever knock played by an Indian against Pakistan in T20Is, with the left-hander breaking the previous record set by Yuvraj Singh, his mentor, in Ahmedabad in 2012. On that night, Yuvraj had batted at a strike rate of 200.00, scoring 72 off 36 balls.
Highest SR for India against Pakistan in a T20I innings
238 - Abhishek Sharma, Dubai, 2025*
200 - Yuvraj Singh, Ahmedabad, 2012
194 - Hardik Pandya, Dubai, 2022
188 - Rohit Sharma, Johannesburg, 2007
*Min 30 runs
With the incredible cameo, Abhishek stretched his strike rate in T20Is to 195.40. It’s the highest for any batter in history with over 500 runs in the format. The 25-year-old’s quick start well and truly put India on the way to a comfortable chase in the group game of the Asia Cup 2025 today against their arch rivals.