NEW DELHI: Swashbuckling India opener Abhishek Sharma revealed that he has been following the aggressive template set by former skipper Rohit Sharma in T20I powerplays. The move came after guidance from head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav.

Having made his T20I debut in July 2024, Abhishek’s attacking approach has helped him climb to the No. 1 spot in the ICC rankings for T20I batters.

In 34 matches so far, he has scored 1199 runs at a strike rate of 190.92, including two hundreds and seven fifties.

"Rohit bhai has done a lot for the country. There is always pressure because of the starts he used to give in the powerplay,” Abhishek told JioHotstar when asked about Rohit’s influence.

“When I came into the team, the coach and captain wanted the same from me. I felt it suited my style too because I love to attack from the first few balls. I have been following in Rohit bhai's footsteps and I am really happy to play in this manner and do well for India,” he added.

Clear role and constant improvement

Abhishek said that while there is room for improvement in his game, he has complete clarity about his role.

"I wouldn't say I am fully matured yet, because there is always room to improve. But I feel my job is to play aggressive cricket in the first six overs.

"I have been practicing a lot for that. I know if I give a good start or show good intent early, the team can follow that momentum (and) that is what I always think about," he said.

With the T20 World Cup just a fortnight away, Abhishek shared that he has been preparing for the specific types of bowlers he will face in the tournament.

"If I want to play aggressive cricket and show intent, I have to practice a certain way. That is what I always do before matches. When I get a week or 10 days, I keep in mind the bowlers I will face in the next series or matches. It all comes down to how I execute those plans.

“For the upcoming T20 World Cup, I have been practicing for that too. I know we will play all over India in different conditions against different teams, so preparation is key,” he added.

Net sessions and technical tweaks

The 25-year-old also said he tries to replicate match scenarios in the nets by facing bowlers similar to those he will meet from opposition teams.

“I try to get similar bowlers to bowl at me in the nets. For every bowler in the other team, I find someone similar to practice against,” he said.

“I ask them to bowl out-swingers, in-swingers, and use the new ball. I also ask them to take certain fielders out for me."

Abhishek has also focused on adapting to bowlers taking pace off the ball.

“I know (that) especially going into the World Cup and any match, they won't give me a lot of pace. I realised that in the last few matches, so I have been working on it,” he said.

He added that adjustments to his back lift have helped him generate a smoother flow with the bat.

"I have always had a high grip holding position on the bat. The only thing I worked on was my back lift. I used to keep it a bit low, but now I keep it above my waist so I can get a smooth flow,” he said.

"When it was low, I was getting late on some balls so I practiced that. But the back lift and the grip are both natural for me,” Abhishek added.

(With PTI Inputs)