NEW DELHI: Abhishek Sharma's mantra to dismantle opposition pacers is to step out and attack them across the ground, but a former India all-rounder has cautioned the top-ranked T20I batter that this approach could turn from a boon to a bane during India's title defence in next year's T20 World Cup at home.
Abhishek has emerged as India's driving force with the bat and established himself as a mainstay at the top of the order in 2025. Renowned for his aggressive style of play, he has played a pivotal role in India's T20I successes, including the nation's unbeaten run to the Asia Cup title in September.
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The 25-year-old capped off India's victorious campaign as the tournament's leading run-scorer and carried his excellent form into the recently concluded five-match T20I series in Australia.
"Abhishek won the Man of the Series, but when you look closely, teams come prepared in the World Cup. If Abhishek continues to step out, then teams will work out. He should pick and choose. You can't step out every bowler on the first ball of every innings. There should be a rationale behind an aggressive approach," Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
In the final T20I, which was washed out due to persistent rain in Brisbane, Abhishek struggled against Australia's cunning pacers Nathan Ellis and Ben Dwarshuis, miscues costing him on two occasions.
However, Australia's lackluster fielding offered him two lifelines. Pathan suggested that India's management would likely be reviewing these moments and even jokingly mentioned reaching out to Abhishek's mentor, Yuvraj Singh, for guidance.
"Abhishek struggled against Nathan Ellis. Teams will use a bowler with a lot of variations in the powerplay. I am sure team management will be focusing on this. Even Yuvraj Singh will be focusing on it. I will speak to his mentor, Yuvraj Singh, about it. If a slower ball is used and the pace is varied while bowling at his bat flow, he gets late. He needs to work on it," he added.
Abhishek finished the series as the leading run-getter with 163 runs in five innings, including a half-century.
For his consistent brilliance with the bat, he was named Player of the Series - his second consecutive honour, having earlier been adjudged Player of the Tournament during India's triumphant Asia Cup campaign.
