Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes young opener Abhishek Sharma has taken over the mantle of dominating the powerplay overs for India following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from T20 internationals. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif praised Abhishek’s fearless batting and said the left-hander is already proving himself as a genuine match-winner at the top of the order.
Kaif highlighted that India needed an aggressive striker to fill Rohit’s void, and Abhishek has answered that challenge with a series of explosive knocks in the Asia Cup 2025. “When Abhishek plays, he wins the game on his own. His range of strokes, power, and mindset make him a nightmare for bowlers. On his day, he can even smash six sixes in an over–it’s only a matter of time,” Kaif said.
The 25-year-old has been India’s standout performer in the tournament, leading the run charts with 173 runs in four innings at an average of 43.25 and an astonishing strike rate of 208.43. His consistency has also helped him retain the No. 1 spot in the ICC T20I batting rankings.
Abhishek’s recent knocks have underlined his big-match temperament. In India’s Super 4 clash against Bangladesh in Dubai on September 24, he blasted 75 runs off just 37 balls, reaching his half-century in only 25 deliveries. This came after a match-winning 74 against Pakistan in the first Super 4 game, marking his second consecutive score of 70-plus in the tournament.
With India set to face Pakistan for the third time in the Asia Cup final on September 28, fans are eager to see if Abhishek can once again dominate the powerplay and deliver another headline-grabbing performance for Suryakumar Yadav’s side.
