Abhishek Sharma produced another memorable performance against Pakistan as India took on their arch-rivals in the <a href="https://cricket.international/ishan-kishan-involved-in-heated-exchange-with-pakistan-players-in-asian-games-final/" title="Ishan Kishan involved in heated exchange with Pakistan players in Asian Games final”>Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on October 3.
The Indian opener smashed 61 runs off just 28 balls, hitting three fours and seven sixes at a strike rate of 217.85. His aggressive innings helped India make a flying start after choosing to bat first and saw him add several major records to his name.
Abhishek Sharma demolishes Pakistan with 61-run knock
Abhishek Sharma once again took the attack to Pakistan from the beginning. After India lost Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for 15, the left-hander continued playing his attacking brand of cricket alongside Shreyas Iyer.
He brought up his half-century in the powerplay before eventually falling for 61 off 28 deliveries. His innings included three fours and seven sixes, with seven maximums taking his tally against Pakistan to another landmark.
Arafat Minhas eventually dismissed Abhishek in the eighth over. The batter stepped out looking for another big shot, but the ball stayed low and went underneath his bat. Usman Khan completed the stumping to end the explosive knock.
Abhishek Sharma equals and breaks Virat Kohli’s iconic records
The left-handed batter’s seven sixes also took his overall tally against Pakistan in T20Is to 14, moving him past Virat Kohli’s 11 sixes in matches between the two sides.
Abhishek’s half-century also saw him join Kohli in an elite list involving T20I finals. He now has two 50-plus scores in T20I finals, matching Kohli’s tally.
Indian players with multiple 50+ scores in T20I finals:
Abhishek has also moved to two 50-plus scores against Pakistan in T20Is. Kohli remains at the top with five such scores.
Most 50+ scores against Pakistan in T20Is by Indians:
His latest knock also helped India register their highest powerplay score against Pakistan in T20Is. India reached 81/2 in the first six overs, bettering their previous best of 69/0 in the 2025 Asia Cup Super Fours in Dubai. He has now completed a T20I fifty inside the first six overs six times, more than any other batter.
Abhishek Sharma equals Yuvraj Singh’s legendary record
Abhishek’s seven sixes also saw him equal Yuvraj Singh’s record for the most sixes by an Indian batter in an India-Pakistan T20I innings.
Most sixes in an India-Pakistan T20I innings:
Yuvraj Singh: 7, Ahmedabad, 2012
Abhishek Sharma: 7, Nisshin, 2026*
Abhishek Sharma: 5, Dubai, 2025
The opener has now hit 104 sixes in T20 cricket in 2026. He had smashed 108 sixes in the format in 2025.
India batters with most sixes in a calendar year in T20s:
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: 90 in 2026
Abhishek has also reached 100 T20 sixes in a calendar year in only 651 balls in 2026, the second-fastest mark on record behind Andre Russell’s 589 balls in 2019. Also, he completed 400 T20 sixes off 3513 balls, only behind Russell’s 3027 balls.
Source: cricketaddictor.com
