Dubai: After playing a scintillating knock of 75 in 39 deliveries, Abhishek Sharma credited his preparation and simple batting approach for India’s 41-run victory over Bangladesh to reach the final of the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday.
Put into bat after Bangladesh’s stand-in skipper Jaker Ali won the toss, India posted 168/6 in 20 overs. Abhishek lit up the innings with his power-hitting, taking India to 72/0 in the first six overs with Shubman Gill (29 off 19).
After Gill’s dismissal, India sent Shivam Dube at No. 3, but he managed only 2. Abhishek added 29 off 13 with captain Suryakumar Yadav before being brilliantly run out by Rishad Hossain.
“Of course, I have done my job for the team. I said it before, and I generally go with the flow. If it’s in my arc, I will go for it even if it’s the first ball of my innings. I try to get the Power-play for my team,” Abhishek said after being named Player of the Match (POTM) in India’s 41-run win.
His 75 not only powered India but also took him past his mentor Yuvraj Singh’s tally for the most T20I innings by an Indian with five or more sixes.
He now has six such knocks, behind only Rohit Sharma (13) and Suryakumar (9). He also set a new Asia Cup record, hitting 17 sixes in the 2025 edition — the most ever in a single tournament across formats. He revealed how he and Shubman Gill planned their approach early on.