Attacking India opener Abhishek Sharma has added another feather to his cap, equaling Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan for the most Player of the Match (POTM) awards in Men’s T20 Internationals since making his international debut in July 2024.
The landmark moment arrived following his match-winning knock (82 off 32) at the top of the order in the first T20I against Afghanistan in New Delhi on Sunday, when Abhishek dismantled the opposition bowling attack with the aggressive, boundary-clearing approach that has quickly become his trademark.
Farhan, who experienced a breakout run of form in international cricket during the same period, had set the benchmark for individual match influence in the format. By matching Farhan’s haul, Abhishek solidifies his standing as one of world cricket’s most decisive match-winners in T20Is.
The resulting POTM award took his tally to six in international T20s, drawing him level with Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan for the highest count accumulated by any player since Abhishek first donned the Indian jersey. His ability to take on pace and spin alike in the powerplay has produced consistent match-winning impacts, helping him rack up individual honors at a breakneck pace. Since his international debut following the 2024 T20 World Cup, Abhishek has been the spearhead of India’s new-look, fearless batting blueprint in the shortest format. Next Target in Sight: Abhishek is now level with wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan (6 awards) and sits just one behind mentor Yuvraj Singh, who collected 7 Player of the Match trophies during his T20I career.
