Australian spinner specialist Matt Kuhnemann believes young Indian opener Abhishek Sharma is the main batting threat heading into the fourth T20I in Queensland, scheduled for Thursday, November 6. The left-arm spinner praised Abhishek’s rapid rise and aggressive stroke play and admitted that Australia will have to dismiss him early to prevent him from playing.
Abhishek has been one of the brightest batting talents to emerge from India in recent years. After an outstanding season in the Indian Premier League, where his fearless hitting and range of shots attracted widespread attention, he carried that form into international cricket. His appearance at the Asian Cup he was particularly impressive as he finished as the tournament’s top scorer and played a key role in India’s title campaign.
The young opener continued his form against Australia in the ongoing T20I series, producing a smooth 68 in the second match in Melbourne. His ability to strike from the first ball is something Australia fear. Kuhnemann acknowledged that Abhishek sets the tone for India in the powerplay and can quickly change the tempo if he gets settled.
“Hopefully Xavier Bartlett or one of the quicks, Benny Dwarshuis, can take his wicket in the first two overs. He’s a serious talent and he goes so hard from the ball. It’ll be a great show on Thursday but hopefully the lads get him cheap,” Kuhnemann told cricket.com.au. The spinner is looking to play his fifth T20I in the upcoming match.
BOTH TEAMS ARE PLAYING EXPLOSIVE CRICKET
Kuhnemann also highlighted the similarities between the two teams’ batting approaches. He noted that both sides prefer to play aggressive, fast cricket right from the start. For India, the opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill have brought a new level of attacking flair, while Australia rely on the powerful duo of Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head, both of whom are known to dominate the early overs.
“Yeah, I think the way they play is similar to the way we play. Very explosive. The game changes quickly. Everyone goes hard from ball one. Middle overs wickets will be key,” Kuhnemann said.
Australia are likely to make a few changes, with some players rotating to prepare for upcoming home and Test commitments. With the series tied at 1:1The last two matches are expected to be hard-fought and Abhishek’s form could play a decisive role in determining the outcome.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
November 4, 2025
