Abhishek Sharma chosen as best run-getter as Australian legend makes explosive predictions on IND-AUS T20I series
Former Australia skipper Michael Clarke recently predicted that Team India’s young opener Abhishek Sharma will emerge as the top scorer in the upcoming five-match T20I series. However, the former slugger backed the Mitchell Marsh-led side to win the five-match competition by a 3-1 margin.
India is scheduled to begin their T20I series against Australia on Wednesday, October 29 in Canberra. After losing the ODI series 1-2, the visitors will look to bounce back and regain their momentum. The Men in Blue secured a 2-1 series victory on their last tour of Australia for the shorter format in 2020-21.
Michael Clarke predicts Abhishek Sharma as the best runner
Speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast, Michael Clarke said Abhishek Sharma has the skills to represent India in all three formats. Clarke said the left-handed hitter has a full range of shots and called him a “superstar” in the T20 format.
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“I think he (Abhishek) is ready to play in all three formats for India. It’s tough, you can only have 11 players and six batters. But I think he is an absolute superstar in this format. He opens the batting, a left-hander and has hit all the shots,” Clarke said.
Clarke predicted that Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa would end up as the leading wicket-taker in the upcoming T20I series. Zampa, one of Australia’s most reliable performers in this format, has taken 131 wickets in 106 T20Is at an impressive average of 21.38 and an economy rate of 7.33.
Abhishek Sharma has been in extraordinary form in 2025
Abhishek Sharma has been in extraordinary form in 2025, scoring 593 runs in 12 T20Is at an average close to 50 and a strike rate above 200. The left-hander has scored 849 runs in 24 matches at an average close to 37 and a strike rate of 196.07, including two centuries and five fifties.
He last played for India in the 2025 Asia Cup, where he won the player of the tournament award. The southpaw scored 314 runs at a strike rate of 200 and an average of 44.85.
Abhishek Sharma also tops the ICC T20I batting rankings with a rating of 926. The upcoming five-match series will be his first appearance in Australia, where he will look to continue his remarkable form.
Michael Clarke predicts Australia-India T20I winner
Michael Clarke has predicted that Australia will beat India 3-1 in the upcoming five-match T20I series, with the match possibly affected by rain.
He noted that both teams enter the competition in great shape. India have dominated since their unbeaten triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup, winning 24 of their next 27 matches.
Australia have bounced back impressively from their early exit from the World Cup, winning 16 in their last 18 T20Is and winning four consecutive bilateral series.
However, India have dominated in recent head-to-head matches. The Men in Blue have won seven of their last eight T20Is and have also claimed victory in the last three series against Australia.
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