Abhishek Sharma

He looks like a complete package with his left-arm spin and is also a brilliant fielder. Sharma is currently playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, having made his debut for the Delhi Daredevils, now called the Capitals, back in 2018.

The youngster led India to a victory in the U19 Youth Asia Cup in December 2016. The stylish southpaw also finished as the 2nd highest wicket-taker. Two years later, Abhishek was part of the Indian U19 World Cup squad, which won the tournament under the leadership of Prithvi Shaw.

Sharma was a part of the playing XI in all the games, and his major contribution came in the quarter-final against Bangladesh when he scored an important half-century. He also proved to be a lethal weapon with the ball as the left-arm spinner wreaked havoc all through the tournament.

Abishek was the Indian U19 skipper in the 2017 Youth ODI against England, which India won 3-1. Following the series, Prithvi Shaw was replaced as the skipper as he continued the captaincy duties till the World Cup.

Abhishek first hogged the limelight in the Vijay Merchant Trophy in 2015-16 when he finished as the leading run-getter with 1200 runs in the domestic U-16 tournament. He followed it up with a dream debut at the U-19 level when he smashed a century for Punjab in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy. 

Following his return from the U19 World Cup, Sharma played the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Punjab. It was just before the World Cup that the 20-year-old made his Ranji Trophy debut and made an immediate impression with a knock of 94 against Himachal Pradesh.

It was the Daredevils, who acquired his services in the IPL back in 2018 for just INR 55 lakhs. He made a sensational IPL debut, smashing a whirlwind 46 of just 19 deliveries against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

That innings made people look and take notice of him. However, he wasn't required much in the latter part of the tournament and went to Sunrisers Hyderabad from the Capitals in 2019.

Punjab's Abhishek Sharma leapfrogged over Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli in an elite List A cricket list when he smashed a sensational hundred in a Vijay Hazare clash against Madhya Pradesh. The left-handed batter scored a brilliant 42-ball ton, the 2nd fastest in List A cricket by an Indian player.

Going into the 2021 edition of IPL, Abhishek's T20 form was splendid in the 2020-21 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy when the youngster cracked his maiden T20 century to help Punjab thrash the Railways by 117 runs in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match. However, he could not continue this run in the IPL, scoring just 98 runs in seven innings while batting down the order for the better part of the season.

It was in 2022 when SRH realised his ability as an opener and utilised him in that role. Abhishek smashed 426 runs in 14 innings that year. However, in 2023, things went back to square one. Although he played with a better intent, he finished the season with 226 runs in 11 innings.

Leading up to IPL 2024, Abhishek found his mojo, dominating the batting charts for Punjab in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023. In Punjab’s victorious campaign, he hammered 485 runs in 10 innings at a strike-rate of 192.46.

The youngster carried his domestic form into the IPL and formed a formidable partnership with Travis Head at the top of the order, helping Sunrisers Hyderabad reach the final. 

Abhishek scored 484 runs in 16 matches, and thanks to his red-hot form, he earned a maiden India call-up and is set to travel with the Indian team for their tour to Zimbabwe.

In July 2024, Abhishek Sharma delivered a remarkable performance in the second T20I at Harare Sports Club. After a first-match duck, he rebounded with a blistering 100 off 46 balls.

In November 2024, Abhishek Sharma was appointed captain of the Punjab team for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024, leading a squad that included notable players such as Prabhsimran Singh and Arshdeep Singh. During the tournament, Sharma delivered a record-breaking performance against Meghalaya, scoring an unbeaten 106 runs off just 29 balls. His explosive innings, featuring eight fours and 11 sixes, set a new record for the fastest century in SMAT history, reaching the milestone in a mere 28 balls.

Despite such individual brilliance, Punjab's overall performance in the tournament was mixed. They secured five wins out of seven matches in the group stage, enhancing their net run rate and bolstering their chances for the knockout rounds. However, their journey was cut short in the quarterfinals.

In December 2024, following his leadership in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Abhishek Sharma was appointed captain of the Punjab team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2024-25 season. A standout match was against Mumbai, where Punjab chased down a target of 248 runs in just 29 overs, winning by eight wickets with 21 overs remaining. Sharma contributed in that match with a swift 66 off 54 deliveries. 

In January 2025, during the first T20I against England at Eden Gardens, Abhishek Sharma delivered a scintillating performance that propelled India to a commanding seven-wicket victory. Chasing 133, India faced an early hiccup with the quick dismissals of Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav. However, Abhishek unleashed a barrage of strokes, amassing 79 runs off just 34 balls, a knock embellished with five fours and eight towering sixes.

Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, SRH retained Sharma for INR 14 crore, reflecting his value to the franchise. After failing in the first five games, the swashbuckler had his day against Punjab Kings, chasing 246 runs. Abhishek scored a historic 141 off just 55 balls, helping SRH chase down the target in 18.3 overs. 

(As of April 2025)