Abhishek Sharma's batting prep secret: 'I think about what they are thinking'
Synopsis
Abhishek Sharma doesn’t just attack — he plots. The India opener has revealed he asks his video analyst to role-play as an opposition coach, building hypothetical bowling plans against himself to identify weaknesses before match day. It’s a glimpse into the analytical rigour behind one of Indian cricket’s most explosive top-order batters.
Key Takeaways
Abhishek Sharma revealed his match preparation involves anticipating opposing bowlers’ strategies, not just practising his own shots.
He works with his video analyst by asking them to simulate opposition bowling plans — including imagining they are working with the Afghanistan coaching unit.
Abhishek stated: ‘I think about what they are thinking’ — framing tactical anticipation as a personal responsibility.
The comments were made ahead of India’s home series against the West Indies in October 2026 .
Abhishek has been a key performer for India, including during the country’s recent Asian Games campaign.
India opener Abhishek Sharma has lifted the curtain on his batting preparation, revealing that he actively tries to reverse-engineer the plans of opposing bowlers — using video analysis and hypothetical match-up exercises to stay a step ahead of world-class attacks. The disclosure came ahead of India's home season against the West Indies, as the aggressive left-hander explained the tactical thinking that underpins his free-scoring style.
The Mental Approach Behind the Aggression
Abhishek was candid in an interview on JioStar that his attacking game is far from instinctive alone. “It’s not like I just go and hit. I know there are world-class bowlers, world-class teams ahead, and they won’t give away easy runs, and they won’t easily let me hit the shots I want to play. But as a player, I feel this is my responsibility, that I think about what they are thinking,” he said.
The admission underscores a growing awareness among modern top-order batters that aggression, to be sustained at the international level, must be backed by structured preparation rather than instinct alone.
The Video Analyst Exercise: Flipping the Perspective
One of the more striking aspects of Abhishek’s preparation involves working with his video analyst by imagining the analyst is part of an opposition coaching unit. “Recently, I’ve been talking with my video analyst that, ‘If you were in the other team, probably, just imagine you’ve been working with the Afghanistan team right now, then what plans would you keep for me as a bowler?’ So, I asked him that, took videos from him,” he explained.
He added: “So, I keep preparing myself, that they won’t bowl where I want. I will have to make some adjustments. They are not going to give you easy runs. So, I prepare myself like that.”
The approach mirrors techniques increasingly used at franchise and Test level, where opposition-simulation sessions have become standard practice for top-order batters facing specialist bowling attacks.
Context: India's Home Season and What's at Stake
Abhishek enters the West Indies series as one of India’s most important white-ball assets at the top of the order. His recent performances — including his contributions during India’s Asian Games triumph — have cemented his role as a high-impact option in the powerplay. Notably, the series against West Indies offers him the chance to consolidate his position in a competitive batting lineup ahead of a packed international calendar.
This comes amid broader conversations in Indian cricket about how young aggressive batters manage the transition from domestic or franchise cricket to the more rigorous, chess-like preparation demands of international fixtures.
What This Signals for Indian Cricket's Batting Culture
Abhishek’s comments reflect a maturity beyond his age in professional preparation. The ability to anticipate bowling plans — rather than merely react to them — has long been a hallmark of India’s most durable top-order players. His openness about the process also points to a wider cultural shift in Team India’s support structure, where analyst-led preparation is now deeply embedded at every tier.
With the home season against West Indies set to begin shortly, all eyes will be on whether Abhishek’s meticulous preparation translates into consistent performances at the top of the order.
Point of View
Data-literate dressing room culture. The real question is whether this level of preparation is yet consistent across India’s white-ball setup, or whether it reflects individual initiative rather than a team-wide standard. Either way, for a batter whose primary value lies in powerplay aggression, the ability to anticipate rather than merely react is what separates a destructive cameo from a match-defining innings.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Abhishek Sharma prepare for international bowling attacks?
Abhishek Sharma prepares by working with his video analyst to simulate opposition bowling plans, asking the analyst to imagine they are part of the opposing team and devise strategies against him. He then studies the resulting footage to anticipate adjustments he may need to make during actual matches.
What did Abhishek Sharma say about his batting mindset?
Abhishek said, ‘It’s not like I just go and hit. I know there are world-class bowlers, world-class teams ahead, and they won’t give away easy runs.’ He described thinking about the opposition’s plans as a personal responsibility, not just a coaching instruction.
When did Abhishek Sharma make these comments?
Abhishek made these remarks on JioStar ahead of India’s home series against the West Indies in October 2026 . The interview offered a detailed look at his pre-series preparation routine.
Why does Abhishek Sharma’s preparation approach matter for Indian cricket?
As one of India’s key powerplay batters, Abhishek’s ability to survive and thrive when opponents target his weaknesses is critical to India’s white-ball success. His analyst-driven method signals a broader shift in how young Indian batters are being prepared for international challenges.
What is Abhishek Sharma’s role in the Indian team?
Abhishek Sharma is an aggressive left-handed opener who provides India with powerplay momentum in white-ball cricket. He was a prominent performer during India’s recent Asian Games campaign and is expected to be central to India’s home series against the West Indies.
