Flamboyance meets consistency in Abhishek Sharma's journey

"Flamboyant." That's the first word that comes to mind for Punjab skipper Mandeep Singh when he is asked to sum up Abhishek Sharma as a cricketer and person. "That's his flair," he says in a chat with Cricbuzz. "You see the flamboyance when he is batting and even when he is off the field, you can see that with his nature and his style."

Flamboyance has defined Abhishek's nascent cricketing career. The characteristic was unmistakably evident in his maiden IPL match in 2018, when he dazzled everyone with a breathtaking 19-ball 46 against RCB. And it was further underscored in the precedent-setting match between SRH and MI earlier in this IPL season, when he scored a sensational 16-ball fifty, overshadowing the likes of Heinrich Klaasen and Travis Head.

Yet Mandeep has also sensed a new aspect that Abhishek is cultivating in his game: consistency. Having shared the field with him since his debut season in 2017, the Punjab captain emphasises that in recent years, the 23-year-old has undergone a significant transformation. He has integrated his inherent flair with a newfound reliability that was missing in the early stages of his career, effectively doubling his impact on the game.

"Abhishek and Shubman [Gill] both entered the team around the same time, having scored plenty of runs in junior cricket," recalls Mandeep. "We all knew that two very good players were coming in, and both of them entered the Ranji Trophy team at an early age. Obviously Shubman's growth has been extraordinary, he has gone on to play for India. On the other hand, Abhishek had a problem with consistency. The runs weren't coming but talent wise he was one of the best.

"I remember a match against Delhi, Navdeep Saini was bowling and the batsmen were late to play the ball. On the other hand when Abhishek was batting, the pace didn't make any difference to him. He was playing back-foot punches, pulled with ease, and played the flick shots too. That's when I realised that he has so much time, just like the ability that Shubman has."

Gill and Abhishek were both members of the 2018 India batch that clinched the Under-19 World Cup, as was Riyan Parag. While Gill has swiftly ascended towards stardom, Abhishek and Parag have taken a longer route, starting their IPL careers with promise before taking time to develop.

Parag had flattered to deceive - 180 runs in the 2022 season at an average of 16.22 was his best return. Prior to this season, his IPL career had yielded a total of 600 runs at an average of 16.21. Despite this, the Rajasthan Royals continued to show faith in him. By comparison Abhishek, who joined Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2019 following a stint with Delhi in 2018, showcased improved form in the 2022 season, accumulating 426 runs at an average of 30.42. However, his overall performance before IPL 2024, totalling 893 runs at an average of 22.89, did not fully reflect his capabilities.

Both players seem to have undergone a makeover in IPL 2024 on the back of some exceptional form in the domestic season. Parag emerged as the top run-scorer in the 2023 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, accumulating 510 runs for Assam at an impressive strike rate of 182.79, with seven half-centuries in 10 matches. Meanwhile, Abhishek's performance was equally noteworthy, as he amassed 485 runs at a strike rate of 192.46 in the same tournament. He registered two centuries and three half-centuries in 10 matches, ultimately contributing to Punjab's maiden triumph.

"The form he showed (in the match against MI), he got this from Mushtaq Ali," Mandeep says. "We were playing league games in Ranchi and he used to play just like this, completely dominating. And the best part was he was scoring big runs, scoring 100s, 70s and 80s. He used to get an odd fifty earlier but wasn't consistent. But this year he has consistently scored big runs.

"So that form has continued in the IPL and he has developed a couple of special shots also. If you see his batting against the spinners...playing the ball which is a hard length - one where you can't play the pull or come onto the front foot - he used to score sixes off them. He played similarly against Piyush Chawla. He's doing the same things that he did in Mushtaq Ali. He doesn't have the problem of time, be it pace or spin."

It's an observation that is mirrored by Punjab head coach, Aavishkar Salvi, who also points out the mental aspect. "You cannot guarantee a performance but at least you can guarantee a mindset and approach," he says. "It's a 365-day season now, it's not like a two-month or a three-month season. The players are playing a lot of tournaments throughout the year. So to keep up the form throughout the year at times gets a bit difficult but the mindset, the approach and the preparations of these guys...this is one of the driving factors which is propelling them to score runs whenever they get an opportunity."

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On the eve of what would turn out to be a batting extravaganza in Hyderabad, Abhishek was busy engrossed in a vigorous net session. His shot-selection was astute, the timing seemed impeccable. But there were moments when he appeared stretched in his attempt to dispatch the short deliveries. And then he executed a pull shot to perfection, expertly getting on top of the bounce and putting it away with authority. This particular shot received high praise from Raj Kumar Sharma, his father and childhood coach, who stood behind the nets watching his son bat and making careful observations.

Sharma senior, who has played cricket in the age group levels for Punjab, quickly recognised Abhishek's passion for the sport and his innate talent. A six-year-old Abhishek eagerly anticipated his father's return home after playing cricket so that he could learn how to bat, roll his arm over and also hold on to a few catches. By the time he was eight, he had already started playing with the leather ball. According to Raj Kumar, his son possessed a natural flair for the game, showcased a straight bat technique, developed the grip on his own, and mastered proper cricketing shots without much instruction from his father.

It's yet another example of the overlap that Abhishek shares with his former India U19 teammates. Lakhwinder Singh Gill's role was pivotal in his son Shubman's rise to his current stature. Similarly Parag Das, a former first-class cricketer from Assam, has helped to shape the career of his son, Riyan.

"I have had many conversations with Shubman Gill's father. A father's role is very important," reckons Raj Kumar. "If someone's father has played the game before and understands it, it is a very good thing for the player. Because the parent understands what is important for the kid. I have seen Sarfaraz (Khan) rise to the India level. I have listened to his father a few times. He gives tremendous advice, he has a lot of knowledge, he provides guidance.

"Shubman Gill is Abhishek's friend from childhood days, they have come up together since the under-12 days. Shubman's father has also played a big impact. He used to stay with him, make him bat, used to teach him everything. I used to sit there and listen to everything. He is a treasure-trove of cricketing knowledge. Not only did he train Shubman, but he guided all his friends who came to him."

For Abhishek and numerous other Punjab players including Gill, the mentorship of Yuvraj Singh has also been a significant catalyst. Abhishek, in particular, has undergone extensive training sessions with Yuvraj during the off-season, benefiting immensely from the wisdom and guidance of one of India's cricketing legends.

"When he was a kid, he idolised Yuvraj Singh," recalls Raj Kumar. "He used to watch all his matches and never budged from the television. Watching him bat, he used to say, 'Papa, I want to become a player like him.' I used to say, 'Okay son, you work hard, practise well and you'll also become a good batter.' Eventually, he got to the first-class level and got to meet Yuvraj Singh, who saw him play. I am indebted to God that someone like Yuvraj Singh is training him and helping him. Until recently he was practising with Yuvraj Singh who was taking care of all his training schedule."

The influence has been picked up by Abhishek's domestic teammates, too. "Speaking about evolution, the consistency has come in his batting in the last couple of years, he has started scoring a lot of runs, and I feel Yuvi paaji has a big role in that," Mandeep adds. "He keeps working with him personally. When Covid happened, Shubman, Abhishek, Prabhsimran and Anmolpreet all trained with him for two-three months. Even now Yuvi paaji is close to him and mentors him. He also used to scold him in front of us: 'Why did you play this shot? Why did you play that in the air?' Things like that. So he has played a big role, he has spent a lot of time with him, and still keeps in touch with him."

Former SRH coach Brian Lara has been another mentor to Abhishek and, according to Raj Kumar, still phones to disperse tips. With such a strong support network, it is little wonder that progress has been so evident of late.

Yet for all of the improvement, Mandeep has a word of advice for the young batter. "The word flamboyant best describes him and he should never leave that," he says of Abhishek. "He should play like this and remain like this; that's when he's at his best."