Abhishek Sharma delivered a standout performance in Asia Cup 2025, finishing as the top run-scorer with 314 runs in seven games. The young opener from Punjab consistently set the tone for India’s innings, crossing the 30-run mark in six matches and providing explosive starts in the powerplay. His dominant showing was a crucial factor in India’s successful title run, which ended with a thrilling five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the final at the Dubai International Stadium.
For his consistent brilliance at the top of the order, the 25-year-old was crowned Player of the Tournament — and used the moment to take a light-hearted jab at Pakistan’s pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Rivalry With Shaheen Afridi Takes Center Stage
The contest between Abhishek Sharma and Shaheen Afridi added an extra layer of drama to the tournament. During their Super 4s encounter, Abhishek hit Shaheen for a six off the very first ball and cheekily gestured for him to walk back and bowl again. Shaheen responded by charging down the pitch mid-delivery, and the heated exchange quickly went viral.
In the final, Abhishek managed to hit a boundary in Shaheen’s opening over but was eventually dismissed by Faheem Ashraf. Despite the dismissal, his fearless intent remained unchanged. Speaking after the match, Abhishek made it clear that he approaches every bowler the same way, regardless of their reputation.
“If you see, I had a plan. If I get spinners or something in the powerplay as well, I am going to utilise that powerplay. If you see any of the bowlers, even the fast bowlers, or any of the premium fast bowlers as well,” Abhishek told former New Zealand pacer Shaheen Afridi during the post-match presentation.
“If they come, so I had a plan in my mind that I want to go from the first ball, no matter who the bowler is,” he added.
The crowd erupted in cheers when Abhishek mentioned “premium fast bowlers,” turning the subtle dig into one of the most memorable moments of the night.
Old Feud Resurfaces From U19 Days
The Abhishek–Shaheen rivalry is far from new. Their first heated encounter dates back to the 2018 U19 World Cup semi-final, where Shaheen engaged in a verbal exchange with both Abhishek and Shubman Gill. That tension has followed them into senior cricket, adding spice to every India-Pakistan clash.
A Dream Tournament and a Special Reward
Abhishek’s efforts were further recognised when he was presented with a brand-new car alongside his Player of the Tournament award.
“Getting a car is always a pleasure,” said Abhishek.
His road to the Indian T20I side began with a breakthrough 2024 IPL season for SunRisers Hyderabad. With legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring from T20Is, Abhishek seized the opening and has since made the position his own.
“Getting into this team after winning the World Cup wasn’t easy for any opener. But if you see, we had a plan that we wanted to play a game, and we had to show intent from the first ball. So that was my plan, I worked really hard on that. And if you’re playing like this, you need special support from your coach and captain. I think that was the one thing I was getting from them throughout the tournament, before this as well,” said Abhishek.
“My plan was pretty much clear that, if I do well, if I get that impact, and it’s for my team, my team should win. If you want to play something like this, sometimes you will fail, but you have to keep the process going,” he added.
With his fearless intent, consistent performances, and growing confidence, Abhishek Sharma has cemented his place as one of India’s most exciting T20 talents — and his ongoing rivalry with Shaheen Afridi will undoubtedly fuel many more thrilling India-Pakistan encounters.
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