24 off 11 vs Rajasthan Royals with five fours and now, 6 off 6 against Lucknow Super Giants, Abhishek Sharma hasn’t set IPL 2025 on fire yet. On Thursday, in the SRH vs LSG match, Abhishek fell to his weakness, trying to a pull a short-ball from Shardul Thakur. With no timing, he had to perish. The two dismissals he had in this IPL won’t make his mentor Yuvraj Singh happy, who keeps a regular tab on his batting.
The last time SRH met LSG in IPL, it was Abhishek’s night to remember. SRH chased down 166-run target in just 9.4 overs without losing a wicket. Abhishek hammered 28-ball 75 while Travis Head smashed 30-ball 89 in a night of massacre in Hyderabad. But on Thursday, he could not even come close to that form.
SHARDUL STRIKES!
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 27, 2025
The dangerous #AbhishekSharma falls into the trap as he gets caught at fine leg off #ShardulThakur’s clever delivery!
Watch LIVE action: https://t.co/f9h0ie1eiG #IPLonJioStar#SRHvLSG | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/hx4H3wO2EN
Great 2024 for Abhishek Sharma
IPL 2024 was a season of revelation for Abhishek Sharma. After putting in the hard yards under Yuvraj Singh’s tutelage, a new Abhishek emerged. The 24-year-old hammered 484 runs in 16 matches. While he did not break any records in terms of scoring, it was his approach that blew bowlers out of the park. Abhishek maintained a strike rate of 204.21, second only to Jake-Fraser McGurk of Delhi Capitals.
He hammered 42 sixes, most by a batter, as Abhishek broke down the doors of the India Cricket Team. While he blew hot and cold, his aggressive approach earned him praise from all corners. That he scored two centuries and as many half-centuries in 16 innings and struck at 193.84 showed the promise he had.
Although inconsistent, those shows, especially his century in South Africa, swayed SRH to retain him. And they paid top money for his retention. SRH paid a whopping Rs 14 crore for his retention, doubling the youngster’s salary.
T20 World Cup spot in sight
With T20 World Cup 2026 11 months away and Rohit Sharma vacating the opening slot, Abhishek remains one of the favourites. However, he is also competing with fellow left-hander Yashasvi Jaiswal. IPL 2025 could provide an answer to India’s preferred opener in T20 WC.
Apart from Jaiswal, he is also competing with Sanju Samson who has started the IPL with a half-century. There is also Shubman Gill, who too scored a half-century in the first match for Gujarat Titans. The competition will be tough and Abhishek must be mindful of that fact.
With at least 12 innings remaining in IPL 2025, Abhishek Sharma has to find a way to address the shortcomings and hammer some big scores. With the top-order crowded in India Cricket Team, he cannot blow hot and cold. Team India look for consistency and he is missing that.
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