Purnendu Maji and Srinivas Bhogle present Rediff's Most Valuable Player Index of Asia Cup 2025.
Abhishek Sharma scored a sensational 233 runs off just 91 balls, including 25 sixes, in a senior inter-district One-day match in Punjab. This explosive knock comes at a crucial time for the left-hander, who has been struggling for form in international T20I cricket despite his past success and destructive batting ability.
Australia's white-ball captain Pat Cummins will miss the opening matches of IPL 2026 due to a back injury, forcing Sunrisers Hyderabad to appoint a temporary leader. India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan will take charge in his absence, with Abhishek Sharma named vice-captain.
He now has the most sixes in an IPL season -- 39 maximums -- bettering Virat Kohli's tally of 38 in 2016. The 23 year old's smoking innings came at a strike rate of over 210! With 467 runs from 13 innings and 3 50s, Abhishek is not done yet and ready to give bowlers nightmares in the play-offs.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the must-win match against Zimbabwe on Thursday?
Abhishek Sharma focuses on his batting against spin during a net session ahead of the T20 World Cup semifinal against England, recalling his past success at Wankhede Stadium.
Abhishek Sharma blasted a half-century from 14 balls -- the second fastest by an Indian batter in T20 Internationals.
Abhishek Sharma smashed the joint third-fastest half-century and broke his own record for most sixes by an Indian in a T20 innings while scoring an unbeaten 148 in Punjab's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Bengal, in Hyderabad, on Sunday.
Abhishek Sharma has been outstanding with the bat in T20 Internationals, having smashed two centuries and seven fifties to amass 1199 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 190.92.
Punjab's Abhishek Sharma hammered a 96-ball 170 against Saurashtra, while Jharkhand's Utkarsh Singh's 91 fired his team to a big win against Odisha
Abhishek Sharma's dynamic 59 and skipper Shreyas Iyer's composed 68 helped India gain a slice of positivity despite their first T20I against England getting abandoned because of incessant rains.
Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has completed 5,000 international runs across all formats, achieving this milestone during a T20I against England where he scored 68 runs. The article also highlights his impressive career statistics and mentions Abhishek Sharma's new record for the fastest 100 T20I sixes by a Test-playing nation player.
India's bowling coach Morne Morkel has indicated that the team management will continue to back openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, despite the impressive performance of teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Morkel stressed the importance of showing faith in established players who have performed well previously, while also acknowledging the excitement around new talents like Sooryavanshi and pacer Prince Yadav.
Suresh Raina backed the young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to play Test cricket in the future but is not sure if his coaches or IPL team owners want him to pursue red-ball cricket at this stage of his career.
Former India cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara has praised Abhishek Sharma's talent after his explosive innings in an IPL match against Delhi Capitals.
India's young T20 stars, led by opener Abhishek Sharma's blistering 79 off 34 balls, helped India crush England by seven wickets in the first T20I in Kolkata.
Abhishek Sharma, the world's number one T20I batter, discusses the significant impact of training with Yuvraj Singh, highlighting how it strengthened his mindset for high-pressure situations and international cricket.
Ishan Kishan has ascended to the No.1 spot in the ICC T20I batting rankings, surpassing Abhishek Sharma after strong performances, including at the T20 World Cup. Jasprit Bumrah now leads the Test bowling rankings, while Travis Head is the top Test batter. The latest ICC rankings also show significant movements for other players across T20I and Test formats.
Abhishek Sharma had gone about scoring runs meticulously and the game turned following his dismissal.
Sunrisers Hyderabad's Abhishek Sharma says his good off-field bond with Australian opener Travis Head had translated into a successful partnership at the top of the order.
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan emphasises staying focused on his role amidst the buzz around young talents like Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, stating, "I don't give so much focus to what's happening outside." He also shared insights on his own comeback and the importance of mentoring young players.
'If somebody is suggesting something sleazy, you need to take your decision and you know, leave from there.' 'No amount of work is more important than your dignity.'
At just 24, Abhishek Sharma has begun rewriting records that took years for others to set.
Abhishek Sharma's unbeaten century propelled Sunrisers Hyderabad to a thumping 47-run victory against Delhi Capitals in their IPL match.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) are reportedly dissatisfied with the arrangements and facilities for the upcoming Asian Games cricket tournament in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Concerns include inadequate dressing rooms, distant washrooms, and small hotel rooms. As a result, India might send a 'B' team instead of the previously announced full-strength squad, pending a report from a BCCI observer.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi attended the Wimbledon men's singles final, sharing the experience with Yuvraj Singh, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, marking his first visit to the iconic tournament.
Kris Srikkanth questioned whether India's star-studded Afghanistan squad was picked out of fear after recent defeats, arguing the series offered an ideal chance to blood promising youngsters.
Rajasthan Royals' Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has broken the record for most sixes by an Indian batter in a single IPL season, hitting 43 sixes in IPL 2026.
Mentor Yuvraj Singh was very happy when I got out for duck, he must be proud now: Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma smashes a record 15-ball fifty against CSK, breaking his own SRH mark and becoming the third-fastest in IPL history while crossing 2,000 career runs.
Ishan Kishan and Tilak Verma led an intent-filled batting effort with well-paced 81 and an unbeaten 60 respectively to help India crush Zimbabwe by 90 runs in the second T20I and seal the the three-match series 2-0.
Abhishek Sharma attributes his successful 2024 IPL season with Sunrisers Hyderabad to the team's supportive environment, which allowed youngsters to express themselves and perform optimally. He highlighted the backing from the coaches and captain as crucial to his development and performance.
Abhishek Sharma played a memorable innings in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 final, smashing a half-century in just 18 balls, providing India with early momentum.
VVS Laxman, BCCI's Centre of Excellence chief, will coach the Indian men's cricket team at the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He will be assisted by Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and Subhadeep Ghosh. Gautam Gambhir, the regular head coach, will be with the senior team for the West Indies ODI series. Amol Muzumdar will continue as the head coach for the Indian women's team, who will also defend their title.
Abhishek Sharma was ruled out of India's 2nd T20 World Cup group match after recovering from illness, with the BCCI medical team continuing to monitor his condition.
Indian skipper Shreyas Iyer has expressed confidence in the team's preparations ahead of the T20I series against Zimbabwe, aiming for his first series win as captain. The tour is seen as a crucial opportunity for the team to acclimatise and perform, with young talents like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma also in the spotlight.
Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 55 runs, but RCB secured the top spot in the IPL standings due to their net run rate. SRH posted a formidable 255/4, while RCB reached their target of 166 to ensure a top-two finish.
Despite India's semi-final qualification in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, concerns linger over Abhishek Sharma's inconsistent form, with former captain Anil Kumble suggesting a lack of confidence.
Abhishek Sharma remains a doubtful starter for India's massive T20 World Cup group game against Pakistan, after recovering from a stomach infection and missing training and the match against Namibia in Delhi on Thursday.
Former India captain Anil Kumble advises Abhishek Sharma to balance his aggressive batting style with consistency, drawing parallels with Virender Sehwag's career progression.
