By Prakash Nair 
Melbourne, October 31: Nights like these test both skill and temperament. Under the bright lights of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where wind cuts through layers and every mistake echoes, Abhishek Sharma played the kind of innings that makes selectors stop flipping pages. While the rest of India’s batting fell apart familiarly, the left-hander from Punjab produced a stunning 68 off 37 balls, the only real fight in an otherwise sorry total of 125.
A Collapse and a Counterattack
It started badly and got worse. Josh Hazlewood was in rhythm from ball one. The new ball jagged off the seam, edges flew, and India’s top order never settled. Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Suryakumar Yadav all gone before anyone had time to check the scoreboard. Eight overs in, the total was 48 for 5.
That’s when Abhishek decided enough was enough. His approach was uncomplicated: trust his eye, back his timing. The first sign came when he lifted Hazlewood over cover, barely moving his feet but middling it perfectly. From there, he shifted gears. Cut shots, flicks, straight drives it was clean hitting, no slogging.
He reached his half-century in 23 balls, as confirmed by SportsYaari, matching the fastest by an Indian in Australia. And he did it without looking frantic. For every boundary, there was restraint between shots a maturity that stood out amid chaos.
Standing Alone
The scoreboard tells a brutal truth. According to cricket.com, while Abhishek scored 68 from 37, the rest of India combined for 54 runs from 75 deliveries. That’s not a collapse; that’s surrender. Only Harshit Rana, in his short stay, offered support during a 56-run partnership that kept the innings from falling into complete embarrassment.
Abhishek’s shots weren’t just aggressive, they were measured. Eight fours, two sixes, and none of them forced. The cover drives were all wrists and timing, the pull shots crisp and safe. His six off Zampa, a slow slog-sweep that cleared the long boundary, was the kind of stroke that told you he wasn’t guessing; he was reading.
Then, just as he looked set to finish with a flourish, he mistimed one and fell. Deccan Herald described it perfectly: “He stood tall amid ruins.” The silence that followed his dismissal said more than words could.
The Only Talking Point
Everything else was forgettable. Hazlewood was excellent. Ellis and Stoinis cleaned up the tail. The fielding was sharp. India’s approach, on the other hand, was muddled. Too many batters are trying to hit their way out of trouble, not enough are willing to absorb pressure.
But through that wreckage, Abhishek’s innings offered something Indian fans haven’t seen in a while clarity. He didn’t overthink. He didn’t wait for momentum. He made it. LiveMint quoted fans calling him a “one-man army,” and it wasn’t hyperbole. On a night when senior pros looked lost, a 24-year-old with barely a handful of international games played with the calm of a veteran.
Why It Matters
This isn’t just about a half-century. It’s about what it represents. For years, India’s T20 batting order has leaned heavily on right-handers, often predictable, often too safe. A left-hander with range, aggression, and confidence changes the dynamic completely. ABP Live noted that Abhishek’s 23-ball fifty now sits alongside some of the fastest by Indians abroad and the conditions here weren’t easy.
The pitch had pace, bounce, and just enough sideways movement to trouble anyone. That Abhishek managed to dominate in those circumstances says plenty about his temperament.
He’s had flashes before brisk starts in the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad, useful knocks for Punjab in domestic tournaments but this one felt different. This one had weight.
Familiar Failures Around Him
The rest of India’s innings looked like a replay of too many old tapes. Poor shot selection, minimal footwork, and a reluctance to build partnerships. NDTV Sports noted that India’s 125 was one of their lowest totals against Australia in T20Is, a figure that underlines just how poorly they read the conditions.
Suryakumar Yadav, who captained again, looked visibly annoyed after his dismissal. Gill and Gaikwad fell in a similar fashion, hard hands, loose drives. The middle order offered little resistance, and by the time Abhishek found rhythm, the collapse had already set the tone.
The Silver Lining
There’s something about the way Abhishek bats that feels refreshing. He doesn’t carry the stiffness of textbook technique, but there’s nothing reckless either. His balance is natural, his backlift light, and his confidence unforced.
In many ways, his innings felt like a coming-of-age story. The New Indian Express headlined it best: “Abhishek stands tall amid ruins.” It wasn’t heroic in a cinematic sense it was real, gritty, human.
After the match, even some Australian commentators admitted he was the only Indian who looked at ease. For a player still finding his feet at the international level, that’s no small compliment.
What Comes Next
There’s been no official comment yet from team management, but as SportsYaari reported, those inside the dressing room were impressed. He’s expected to keep his place for the next match, and perhaps more importantly, he’s put his name firmly in the mix for India’s long-term T20 plans.
That said, the team has problems to fix ones that can’t be hidden behind a single good innings. The batting unit needs balance, the bowling attack needs consistency, and leadership needs answers that go beyond post-match clichés.
Still, amid all that, a young man from Amritsar showed he belongs.
A Night He’ll Remember
As the players walked off, the giant scoreboard at the MCG flashed the number 68 next to Abhishek’s name bright, stubborn, defiant. It wasn’t a match-winning innings, but it felt like a statement.
Cricket often rewards patience. Abhishek has waited, fought through IPL seasons, and heard the murmurs about inconsistency. Tonight, in front of thousands of Australian fans and millions watching back home, he answered in the best possible way with his bat.
He didn’t save India. But he gave them something they badly needed.
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- Prakash Nairhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/prakash/
- Prakash Nairhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/prakash/
- Prakash Nairhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/prakash/
- Prakash Nairhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/prakash/
