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Analysing Abhishek Sharma's road to 1000 T20I runs with Virat Kohli legacy comparison



Abhishek Sharma vs Virat Kohli - (Source: AFP)Abhishek Sharma vs Virat Kohli - (Source: AFP)

On Saturday, November 8, India locked horns against Australia in the fifth and final T20I of the series. The Men in Blue, batting first, got off to a blazing start as Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma stitched a fifty-run opening stand.

It was a special night for Abhishek Sharma as the southpaw amassed 23 (13), which featured a four and a six. Meanwhile, Sharma also surpassed Tim David and Suryakumar Yadav to slam the fastest 1000 runs in T20 cricket.

Abhishek took just 528 deliveries to reach this milestone, while SKY took 573 deliveries. Overall, Sharma has played 28 innings and is just one behind Kohli, who did the same in 27 innings. 

Meanwhile, this article will shed light on how effective has been Abhishek's journey has been so far and what its impact has been.

Let's look at Abhishek Sharma's India journey

Critiera
Data
Innings28
Runs1012
Balls Taken528
Average37.48
Strike-rate189.51
100/502/6
0s1


Key takeaways

  • Sharma has been on a phenominal run as he has amassed 1012 runs in just 528 balls, averaging 37.48.
  • The most important factor here is that he has carried both consistency and strike-rate as well. Averaging 37 in T20Is is great, and also maintaing a strike-rate of 189.51 is another feather on the cap.
  • Another positive for Abhishek is that even if he is not scoring big fifties and centuries, he make sure to score quickfire twenties or thirties and utilise the powerplay well, which also reflects in the fact that he has been out on a duck just once in 28 innings.

This article will compare Abhishek Sharma's stats with Virat Kohli and how did the two India stars fared in their first 1000 runs for India.

Virat Kohli vs Abhishek Sharma: The race to first 1000 runs

Let's look at Virat Kohli and Abhishek Sharma's stats after they scored their first 1000 T20I runs.

Critiera
Abhishek Sharma
Virat Kohli
Innings2827
Runs10001000
Balls Taken528760
Average37.4846.14
Strike-rate189.51132.18
100/502/60/9
0s10
  • By the stats, it is clear that Virat Kohli focused more on consistency and excelled in his role as an anchor for the Men in Blue in his earlier days. Virat averaged 46.14, whereas Abhishek Sharma averages 37.48.
  • Abhishek, on the other hand, has performed his role well and adhered to the team's demand of high-intent cricket and maintains a strike-rate of 189.51, compared to Virat Kohli's 132.18, which was also good back then and actually great for an anchor.

Virat Kohli vs Abhishek Sharma: Scoring-rate at Home and away

Virat Kohli and Abhishek's stats at home

Critiera
Abhishek Sharma
Virat Kohli
Innings88
Runs314
252
Average39.2531.50
Strike-rate210.85
143.18
100/501/10/1
0s00
  • Looking at the home figures, interestingly, Abhishek Sharma has owerpowered Virat Kohli at home. Sharma has averaged 39.25, while Kohli only averaged 31.50 at home. Further, Abhishek also excelled in strike-rate and bats with a rate of 210.85. 
  • Also, Kohli has no T20I century at home, while Abhishek Sharma scored a century vs England.

Virat Kohli and Abhishek's stats away from home

Critiera
Abhishek Sharma
Virat Kohli
Innings20
19
Runs698763
Average36.754.50
Strike-rate185
129.50
100/501/50/8
0s1
0
  • The away stats tell a different story as Virat has totally dominated the game away from home, which is much more crucial than home stats. Virat averaged 54.50, whereas Abhishek Sharma averages 36.7. 
  • Kohli means consistency and the India legend proved that early on in his career as he slammed eight fifties in his first 19 innings.

Virat Kohli vs Abhishek Sharma: Scores in big tournaments

One of the important factors to judge an impact of player in the team is when they make impactful runs and crucial runs in tournaments. Thus, let's look at their run-tally in the road to first 1000 runs in important tournaments.

Critiera
Abhishek Sharma
Virat Kohli
Innings7
11
Runs314
504
Average44.85
72.00
Strike-rate200126.63
100/500/3
0/6
  • Virat Kohli has been a different beast when it comes to ICC events or multi-national tournaments as the right-handed batter averages 72 in tournaments, while Abhishek Sharma, who shone in Asia Cup 2025, averages 44.85. 
  • Virat has six fifty-plus scores and has been a far-important player for India in his first 1000 runs journey.

Conclusion

It is fair to say that Virat Kohli has contributed more to India than Abhishek Sharma in the early part of his career. Virat has excelled on tough conditions such as away tours and also ICC events such as T20 World Cup and also Asia Cup.

Further, Virat, being the anchor, has always been consistent, while Abhishek Sharma has focused on strike rate, which was a crucial factor behind India's Asia Cup win.