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Ex-India coach predicts Abhishek Sharma’s form could rattle Hazlewood ahead of AUS T20I series

Rajgeeta Yadav

Abhishek Sharma set to face Australia [Source: AFP]Abhishek Sharma set to face Australia [Source: AFP]

India’s young batting star Abhishek Sharma is making headlines again after his stunning performances in recent T20I matches. Fresh from helping India win the Asia Cup 2025 against Pakistan, the world’s No.1 T20I batter is now preparing for a tough challenge, a five-match T20 series against Australia. As the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team gears up for the contest, former India coach Abhishek Nayar has made a bold statement about Sharma’s impact on the game.

Nayar backs fearless Abhishek Sharma

Nayar believes that when Abhishek Sharma is in form, even Australia’s top fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will struggle. He said, 

 “If Abhishek Sharma is in form, Hazlewood will be out of form. The way he bats, he is known to hit the first ball for a four or a six. If you instill fear in the powerplay, it continues throughout the innings. That is Abhishek Sharma’s impact on the game. If he bats six overs, India will score between 60 to 80. It will ease the pressure for his batting partner, while it will increase for the opposition."

Notably, Abhishek Sharma’s aggressive approach has already made him one of the most feared openers in T20I cricket. His fearless batting has troubled many bowlers around the world, and now he’s ready to take on Australian conditions for the first time. 

However, Nayar pointed out that this will be a real test for him, especially against Hazlewood, who is known for his sharp bounce and accuracy.

 “It will be a big test for him, especially against Hazlewood, who is in good rhythm and extracting extra bounce. However, I feel that he has got enough experience by playing in the IPL and in South Africa,” he said.   

Nayar also said that Abhishek Sharma has the right mindset to succeed in Australia. 

 “He has a fearless mindset and will want to make a name for himself in Australia. This is a good chance for him, as it is very satisfying to earn respect in Australia. From how much I know him, he would want to make a name for himself here,” Nayar added.

It is worth mentioning that Abhishek Sharma has played 24 T20Is since his debut last year, scoring 849 runs at an impressive strike rate of 196.07. Although his recent outings in the Australia A series weren’t great, with scores of 0 and 22, the upcoming T20 series gives him the perfect stage to prove himself.