In a sensational display of power-hitting, Abhishek Sharma stunned the cricketing world by smashing a 12-ball half-century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025. The world’s No.1 T20I batter, who is captaining Punjab in this year’s tournament, unleashed an extraordinary knock against Bengal on Sunday morning (November 30) at the Gymkhana Ground in Hyderabad.
Abhishek Sharma Hits 12-Ball 50 Against Bengal
Facing a Bengal bowling attack that included seasoned pacer Mohammed Shami and Akash Deep, Abhishek Sharma opened the innings for Punjab and immediately shifted into top gear.
- He hammered 5 fours and 5 sixes, racing to a fifty at a strike rate of 425.00.
- By the end of four overs, he remained unbeaten on 52 off just 13 balls, leaving the Bengal camp stunned.
The knock comes at a crucial time for Punjab, who had banked heavily on Abhishek’s leadership and batting despite his earlier low scores of 4 and 6 in the first two matches of the tournament.
Shutting Down Critics After Haryana Flop Show
Two days earlier, Abhishek Sharma faced heavy criticism for his performance against Haryana on Friday (November 28).
- He scored only 6 runs off five balls in a 200+ run chase.
- In the Super Over, he was dismissed for a golden duck by Anshul Kamboj, which intensified the backlash.
But Sunday’s explosive knock against Bengal served as a powerful answer to his critics, showing why he is widely regarded as one of India’s most dangerous T20 batters.
Abhishek Sharma’s T20I Return Expected vs South Africa
Abhishek Sharma, currently ranked No.1 in ICC’s T20I batting rankings, last represented India on November 8, 2025, against Australia in Brisbane. During that match, he set a major milestone by becoming the fastest batter to score 1000 T20I runs in terms of balls faced.
He is now all set to make a comeback to the Indian team for the upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa next month.
- The BCCI is yet to announce the squad, but Abhishek’s selection is considered a certainty.
Who Will Open With Abhishek Sharma for India?
One of the key questions ahead of the South Africa series is India’s opening combination.
- Shubman Gill, Abhishek’s recent opening partner in the Asia Cup 2025 and the Australia series, is currently out with a neck injury sustained during the first Test against South Africa on November 15 at Eden Gardens.
- If Gill does not recover in time, Yashasvi Jaiswal is likely to be considered as the alternate opener.
The five T20Is are scheduled to be played across Cuttack, Dharamsala, Mullanpur, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad, making the series significant for India’s preparation heading into a crucial cricketing phase.
Who is Abhishek Sharma?
Abhishek Sharma is the world’s No.1 T20I batter and the captain of Punjab in the SMAT 2025 tournament.
What did Abhishek Sharma achieve in SMAT 2025?
He scored an explosive 12-ball 50, hitting 5 fours and 5 sixes against Bengal.
How did Abhishek Sharma perform in earlier SMAT matches?
He struggled in the first two matches, scoring 4 and 6 runs, and was dismissed for a golden duck in a Super Over against Haryana.
Is Abhishek Sharma expected to play for India soon?
Yes, he is expected to be selected for India’s upcoming T20I series against South Africa.
Who might open with Abhishek Sharma for India?
If Shubman Gill remains unavailable due to injury, Yashasvi Jaiswal could be the possible opening partner.