Kolkata: In a time when hitting sixes has lost some of its thrill, Abhishek Sharma’s explosive performance at Eden Gardens on Wednesday brings a refreshing take on how batters can truly express themselves.

Not many actually live up to the hype, but for Sharma, going for sixes seems to be his go-to move, whether he’s feeling the pressure or just cruising. Check this out: 48 of his 79 runs off 34 balls came from sixes. Out of the 335 runs he’s racked up in T20Is, 270 have come from 54 boundaries, with 27 of those being sixes. Whenever he scores over 20 in T20Is, he consistently hits above 200, leading India to victory.

You can see this love for sixes in his IPL journey too, especially in 2024 when he smashed more sixes (42) than fours (36) during an incredible season with Sunrisers Hyderabad, totaling 484 runs at a strike rate of 204.22. While many struggle to carry their IPL success into international play, Sharma’s consistent role (he opens for SRH too) has been a big help. Plus, he’s got the assurance that he’ll get plenty of chances, no matter the outcome. Last year, he didn’t score more than 16 in seven innings, but his last three outings? 50 off 25 balls, 36 off 18, and 79 off 34.

“At times, it can weigh on your mind if you’re not scoring in a few innings,” Sharma mentioned at the press conference after Wednesday’s match. “But the way the coach and captain support everyone, even when I’m not performing well, they keep saying, ‘We believe you’ll win us a game, just go out there and express yourself.’ When you hear that from the captain or coach, it boosts your confidence and makes you trust yourself.”

Sharma isn't afraid to take risks for the team, even with tough competition around. "I've always aimed to be a team player," he mentioned. "In India, competition in the senior team is always fierce. But when Suryakumar (Yadav) and Gautam (Gambhir) paaji encouraged me to keep my intent, it really hit home. It made me realize that if the team needs me to step up, I can definitely do it."

The boundaries were short, the pitch was playing well, and England was bowling fast. Everyone was expecting reverse-sweeps, switch hits, and daring slices—lots of shots behind the wicket using the ball's pace—but Sharma thrived on pulling, hooking, and cutting the ball hard. Six of his eight sixes on Wednesday were hit between deep extra cover and fine-leg, all from solid cricketing shots.

Sure, the lengths weren't perfect, but Sharma's shot selection was a great reminder of traditional hitting in T20 cricket. It also reflects his style in red-ball cricket, where he has an impressive tally of 30 sixes in just 37 innings. Aerial shots are his specialty, something he's honed with a couple of legends both domestically and in the IPL.

I feel really fortunate about this, he mentioned. "Initially, I was working with Yuvi paaji. Then I had Brian Lara, who was a huge support during my time at SRH. Daniel Vettori kept things straightforward; he just encouraged everyone to be themselves, which really allowed me to play my shots freely. With Yuvraj Singh, Brian Lara, and even Gauti bhai now, they all want me to show my skills in my own way and trust myself."

Bowling simulations have been beneficial as well. "I aim to face the types of bowlers I might encounter in a game," Sharma explained. "A big shoutout to Kotzy sir (Sitanshu Kotak) and Abhishek Nayar bhai. They both helped me in the nets by bringing in bowlers similar to what I’d face. For me, shot selection is pretty straightforward. I just watch the ball and react." Of course, this method doesn’t always work, but when it does, Sharma makes sure to capitalize on it fully.

Read Also: Former Cricketer Manoj Tiwary Claims Gautam Gambhir Threatened Him Over Batting Position

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