Follow UsIndia were the most dominant side throughout the Asia Cup 2025, as they completed the entire tournament without losing a single game. A major part of their success in the 2025 competition was none other than their opener, Abhishek Sharma, who made a telling difference with his swashbuckling display.
The 25-year-old smashed 314 runs in the competition, averaging 44.85, at a strike rate of 200.00, with three quick-fire half-centuries. Not just that, Abhishek also etched himself in the record books, with seven consecutive 30+ scores, joint-most alongside Rohit Sharma and Mohammad Rizwan.
So, what was the secret behind his success? Trust and faith from the management.
“Gauti bhai (Gambhir) and I have told him [Abhishek] not to change his game. Don’t change your identity as it’s the thing that has defined you. The thing that has brought you here. Don’t leave it. This is your identity. Keep backing yourself and keep backing your skill. And you will make a lot of difference from the team’s point of view,” Suryakumar Yadav told the Indian Express.
“Koi dikkat nahi hai, (no problem) if he gets out trying to play a high risk shot in the first ball. T20 is a high-risk, high-reward format. He took risks the whole tournament and got a lot of rewards.”
India’s incredible run was completed most stunningly, as they restricted Pakistan from 113/1 to 146 all out. In the run chase, they were under all kinds of pressure, at 20/3 before Tilak Varma stitched up crucial partnerships with both Sanju Samson and then Shivam Dube, who applied the finishing touches.
“It was 113 for 1 and they got 146 all out from there and then at the time of our batting, the partnership of Tilak and Sanju and the partnership of Tilak and Dubey. But if I have to point out one thing, then the bowlers who made a comeback, were 113/1 in 12-13 overs, after that they got 146 all out,” he added.
In Hardik Pandya’s absence, India were forced to take some tough calls, including handing Shivam Dube the new ball, as the Mumbai all-rounder did excellently well curbing the run rate.
“We were in the dressing room for an hour, talking and making fun of each other. A few had an early morning flight too. And then everyone made their own AI trophy. If we don’t get the silverware, it can’t define how we have played our cricket. We did well in all departments. Like Shivam (Dubey) took the responsibility in Hardik’s absence. Small players are made big like that. When you feed them and keep backing them. Until you throw them in the water, how will you know if they can swim in 10 feet depth or not,” he said.
While Gautam Gambhir has been far too long criticised for the team’s display in the red-ball format, his Indian side in the white-ball formats have played a formidable brand of cricket, including winning the Champions Trophy and now, the Asia Cup 2025. Suryakumar revealed how it was Gambhir who was the mastermind behind handing the new ball to Dube.
“He [Gautam Gambhir] is a behind-the-scenes guy. He helps everyone, supports everyone. He was the one who told me to try Shivam Dube with the new ball yesterday. If you see he hasn’t bowled with the new ball throughout the tournament. Gambhir likes to work behind the scenes and will never come in front. He understands the game and understands the pressure situations. He knows how all these things work and I think he was the best man to guide us.”