“I Have Been Following In Rohit Bhai's Footsteps And I'm Happy To Play Aggressively For India” – Abhishek Sharma

India lead the 5-Match T20I series of New Zealand's Tour of India 2026 after winning the 1st T20I, with this series proving key to India's ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India and Sri Lanka 2026 title defense.

Abhishek Sharma shared his ongoing development through targeted practice against opposition bowlers, simulation of match conditions in nets, and following Rohit Sharma's explosive starting example to build team momentum.

Abhishek Sharma reflected on his development and his focused role of providing aggressive starts:

"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. That is what I always think about."

On the influence and example set by Rohit Sharma:

"Rohit bhai has done a lot for the country. There is always pressure because of the starts he used to give in the powerplay. 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. So, I think I have been following in Rohit bhai's footsteps and I am really happy to play in this manner and do well for India."

On his targeted practice routine, focusing on specific bowlers ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India and Sri Lanka 2026:

"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 ten 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. I feel I have to play this way because in most teams, the main bowlers bowl the first few overs. If I score runs in those overs, it helps the team follow that momentum. It also puts the bowlers under pressure. Once that happens, I feel they are playing into my plan and I can execute it."

On the technical adjustment Abhishek Sharma made to his back lift to improve his timing:

"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. 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."

On how he simulates match conditions in the nets by practicing against bowlers similar to his upcoming opponents:

"It is all about the preparation I do before a match. 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. 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. I know, especially going into the World Cup and any match, they won't give me a lot of pace. I realized that in the last few matches, so I have been working on it. If you want to play aggressive cricket, you have to be prepared for different situations all the time."