IND vs PAK T20: Why is Abhishek Sharma the biggest threat to Pakistan? Turns spin trap into runfest

IND vs PAK T20 Match: India-Pakistan The competition needs no introduction. But beyond the noise and excitement, there is a strategic truth – these matches are often won by the team that dictates the pace of the game. Abhishek Sharma has emerged as India’s most effective weapon in this World Cup. The reason is not only that he is the best batsman of the team, but because he has the rare ability to turn Pakistan’s strategy into a crisis.

Pakistan’s approach in the tournament so far has been based on control. Starting aggressively with the new ball and then controlling the opposition through spin in the middle overs. This is not just a theoretical thing, but is also clearly visible in the team selection. Fast bowler Naseem Shah, who is considered a premium pacer, did not play in the first two matches. When you keep such bowlers out continuously, the message is that Pakistan wants to win by suppressing the opposition team.

Why is Abhishek the biggest threat to Pakistan?

Traditional batsmen make innings, but Abhishek changes the direction of the match. He turns the first 12 balls, which are usually the time to assess the bowlers, into a question on strategy. If they win the initial clash then Pakistan’s entire innings becomes defensive. Fielding has to be done quickly, spinners become defensive instead of taking wickets and the captain starts thinking of saving overs instead of aggression.

How was Abhishek’s performance in Asia Cup 2025?

Pakistan itself has realized this. Abhishek scored 74 runs on 39 balls in the Super Four of Asia Cup 2025. This was not just a help in successfully chasing the target of 172 runs, but was a game-changing performance in the powerplay. India scored 69 runs in six overs without losing any wicket. Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is Pakistan’s leading new ball bowler, could not dominate the match. It was not just a bad over, but a spell in which control could not be established.

Where does Abhishek become weak?

Control is very important in India-Pakistan cricket. When a bowler like Shaheen has to come on the defensive, Pakistan’s strongest start becomes weak. Surface analysis says that a left-arm fast bowler’s angle can trouble a left-handed batsman, and Abhishek has also shown some weakness against such bowlers.

How is the existing structure of Pakistan an opportunity for India?

If Pakistan sticks to its current structure – starting with Shaheen and then tightening up the spin – then Abhishek’s bat might be on the rise. Even a little width or hittable length in Shaheen’s first over can give him great opportunities. After this, if the spinner starts bowling cautiously then 14 runs can be scored in the initial over itself.

This competition is bigger than just individual statistics. Pakistan wants this World Cup to be a story of control and pressure, where the batsmen make mistakes first. Abhishek is such a batsman who does not blink. He challenges the opposition to maintain composure despite the rapid increase in the scoreboard.

His real danger is not that he can score 70 runs, but that if he scores 30 runs in 13 balls, then for the next 14 overs Pakistan will be chasing the match which it wanted to play on its own terms, while India will be playing the match of its choice.