Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Abhishek Sharma

Discover the career path of Abhishek Sharma, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Abhishek Sharma is an Indian international cricketer, playing for the India national team as a left-handed opening batter and left-arm orthodox spinner. He represents Punjab in domestic cricket and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. Notably, Sharma achieved the number one ranking in men's T20I cricket in 2025, attaining the highest-ever rating points in the format.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2016: Captain of U19 Asia Cup winning team

In 2016, Sharma captained the team to victory at the U19 Asia Cup and was the player of the match during the final, showcasing his leadership and performance skills early in his career.

October 2017: First-class cricket debut for Punjab

On 6 October 2017, Abhishek Sharma made his debut in first-class cricket for Punjab in the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy, marking the start of his senior domestic career.

2017: Led team during ODI series against England U19

In 2017, Abhishek Sharma led the team during an ODI series against England U19, marking another significant step in his junior cricketing career.

January 2018: Bought by Delhi Daredevils in IPL auction

In January 2018, Abhishek Sharma was bought by Delhi Daredevils in the 2018 IPL auction for Rs 5.5 million, starting his IPL career.

2018: Member of U19 World Cup winning team

In 2018, Abhishek Sharma was a key member of the team that won the U19 World Cup. He also scored a half-century against Bangladesh in the quarterfinal match of the tournament, contributing to the team's success.

February 2021: Scored fastest hundred in List A cricket for India

On 28 February 2021, playing for Punjab against Madhya Pradesh, Abhishek Sharma scored the fastest hundred by an Indian in List A cricket, achieving the feat in 42 balls.

February 2022: Bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad

In February 2022, Abhishek Sharma was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League.

2023: Led Punjab to Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win

In the 2023-24 season, Abhishek Sharma led Punjab to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament with 485 runs.

2024: Fastest fifty for SRH and Most Sixes Award in IPL

In 2024, Abhishek Sharma scored the fastest fifty for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) against Mumbai Indians and finished the season with 484 runs. He also won the Most Sixes award for hitting the highest number of sixes (42) in the tournament.

2024: International debut and maiden T20I century

In 2024, Abhishek Sharma was called up for the tour of Zimbabwe, making his international debut on 6 July and scoring his maiden T20I century in the second match of the series.

2025: First century of the league

During the 2025 season, Sharma hit his first century of the league in 40 balls during the match against Punjab Kings, scoring 141 runs off 55 balls, which was the highest individual score by an Indian and the third highest score by any batter in the league's history.

2025: Highest individual score for India in T20Is

In 2025, Abhishek Sharma achieved the highest individual score for India in T20Is by scoring 135 runs from 54 balls against England, including 13 sixes and 7 fours. He also jumped to the 2nd spot in the men's T20I world rankings.

2025: Ranked number one T20I batter

In 2025, Abhishek Sharma became the number one ranked men's T20I batter, achieving the highest-ever men's rating points in the format's history.

2025: Number one world ranking in T20I and Asia Cup record

In 2025, Abhishek Sharma reached the number one world ranking in the T20I format and became the youngest Indian to do so. At the 2025 Asia Cup, he broke the record of the most runs scored in a T20I edition of the tournament, achieving the highest-ever rating points in T20I history.

January 2026: Match-high 84 runs against New Zealand

On 21 January 2026, in the first T20I between India and New Zealand at Nagpur, Abhishek Sharma scored a match-high 84 runs, laying a solid foundation for India's victory by 48 runs.

2026: Most ducks in T20 World Cup campaign and fastest half-century in final

During the 2026 T20 World Cup, Abhishek Sharma had a dismal run in the group stage, recording the most ducks by a batter to start off a T20 World Cup campaign. However, in the final, he scored 52 runs off 21 balls, achieving the fastest half-century in the tournament from 18 balls.