Indian national cricket team’s explosive batsman Abhishek Sharma was unable to set the stage on fire in the opening match of the T20I series against the South Africa national cricket team on Tuesday (December 9).
Abhishek Sharma was cleaned up for a low score as big pacer Marco Jansen took a superb catch in the first T20I at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.
Abhishek Sharma falls for 17 against Proteas
Punjab left-handed batsman Abhishek Sharma is currently ranked at number one in the ICC men’s T20I batting rankings. He became India’s best batsman in T20I cricket in 2025 and is considered one of the best in the world.
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His back-to-back outstanding performances quickly helped him climb the ICC rankings, and he also became the batter with the highest rating points in T20I history.
On the Australia tour, Abhishek Sharma played some eye-catching shots but failed to assert his authority. The left-handed batter was expected to do this in the opening match of the T20I series against South Africa, and unfortunately, it didn’t happen.
Abhishek failed to hit boundaries early on and was later dismissed by Lutho Sipamla in the 7th over.
The pacer delivered a length over leg stump to Abhishek, who shuffled inside the line to smash the ball on fine leg ropes. However, he failed to make a good connection with the ball.
Abhishek hit it towards fine leg, where Marco Jansen came running and made a diving catch to take a superb catch and send the Indian batter packing for 17 runs off 12 balls.
Watch: Marco Jansen ends Abhishek Sharma’s innings with a stunner
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– Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) December 9, 2025
Either way, he hits very well – Irfan Pathan hails Abhishek Sharma
Speaking in a video shared on his official YouTube channel before the match, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan praised Abhishek for his exploits in the T20I.
He also expressed his desire to see South African bowlers challenge Indian batting, which would only help Abhishek grow further and become a better hitter.
“The pace with which he bats, the strike rate with which he bats is 190-200 and his average is close to 40, you won’t find any other batter as consistent while playing in this style. South Africa could look to bowl outside off stump, or they could even go for the short ball in the first or second ball of the innings itself. We have to see how Abhishek Sharma counters this.” Irfan Pathan said on his channel YouTube.
“If something is tried against Abhishek Sharma, that’s better because it will be an opportunity for Abhishek Sharma to counter that and improve. If South Africa doesn’t try anything new against him, then it’s fine, let it continue, he is batting very well anyway.” Irfan Pathan said.
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