Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik has lavished praise on Abhishek Sharma, calling the explosive left-hander a 'world superpower opener' after another barnstorming innings in the T20I series against the West Indies. Karthik credited the batter's consistency across conditions and opponents as the defining quality separating him from peers at the global level.

The innings that sparked the conversation

Abhishek blazed 69 off 30 balls in the third T20I on Sunday at Holkar Stadium, Indore, providing the platform for India to post a commanding 223. During that knock, he also crossed the 2,000 T20I runs landmark, becoming the fastest batter in history to reach that milestone in terms of balls faced.

What Karthik said

Speaking on the cricket show Cricbuzz, Karthik drew attention to the role of mentor Yuvraj Singh in shaping the opener's game. 'He's guided by someone who's shown for a long, long time how efficient you can be, even though he's someone who is so good with striking a cricket ball. Abhishek Sharma is learning from the best, and you can see how he's able to pace an innings,' Karthik said.

Karthik highlighted Abhishek's understanding of the powerplay as a key factor in his success. 'He knows the powerplay is an area where you need to try and hit as many boundaries as possible. And he's found a method in which he's able to be successful. And across pitches, across destinations in the world, he's able to go out there and constantly put the bowlers under pressure,' he added.

The former India wicketkeeper also underscored the fear factor Abhishek now generates in opposition camps. 'Now, when you see somebody like Abhishek Sharma walking in as a team, you fear it — that's the wicket we need early. Because if you don't get that early, it's going for runs. So I've enjoyed how he's blossomed into this world superpower as an opener,' Karthik said.

Consistency against big opposition

Karthik, who also serves as Royal Challengers Bengaluru's batting coach, pointed to Abhishek's ability to deliver in high-stakes matches as the quality that places him among the world's elite. 'What is even more rewarding for someone like Abhishek Sharma is the fact that he's able to churn those runs against big opposition, big games and also bring consistency to it, which is probably the toughest aspect up until now for good T20 cricketers,' he said.

Karthik noted that Abhishek's presence in the top five T20 batting rankings for a sustained period reflects his willingness to take risks while maintaining consistency — a combination he argued sets the left-hander apart from most players in the world.

The tactical layer: Reading conditions first

The former India batter also pointed to a technical evolution in Abhishek's game, specifically referencing how the opener assessed off-spinner Roston Chase in the Indore innings before shifting gears. 'First couple of balls, he just knocked it and just tried to say, okay, what's the pitch doing? And then he went bang bang,' Karthik observed.

This combination of instinct and assessment, Karthik argued, is what elevates Abhishek beyond a pure aggressor into a batter with genuine match-winning nous. With the series against the West Indies continuing, all eyes will be on whether the young opener can extend his red-hot run further.