The modern T20 era has revolutionised batting, with openers setting the tone for their teams through fearless stroke play. Power-hitters like Jos Buttler, Travis Head, and David Warner have entertained fans with blazing starts, while emerging stars such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Phil Salt have brought fresh energy into the format. In India’s setup, young names like Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, have stepped up to ensure the team continues to dominate the shortest format.
The role of an opening batter has never been more demanding—balancing aggression with consistency while facing the new ball against world-class fast bowlers. With strike rates becoming a key marker of success, openers are judged by their ability to provide lightning-quick starts. Amid so much competition, identifying the single best modern-day opener is no easy task. Yet, former South Africa captain AB de Villiers, one of the finest entertainers the game has ever seen, has offered a clear answer.
AB de Villiers picks the best opening batter of modern-day cricket
De Villiers, widely regarded as “Mr. 360” for his innovative batting, recently heaped praise on India’s Abhishek Sharma. Speaking on his YouTube channel, De Villiers declared the young left-hander the best opening batsman in T20 cricket right now.
“The Indian team is dominating the Asia Cup. It’s fascinating to see them so dominant in this format, and it’s no great surprise considering the quality of the IPL. The first name that comes to my mind is Abhishek Sharma, who is probably the best opening batsman in T20 cricket in the world right now,” said De Villiers.
The South African legend highlighted Abhishek’s extraordinary strike rate, which has touched 197 in his last 20 innings, and stressed how his presence at the crease often leads to Indian victories.
“When he comes out, India usually wins. He has the highest strike rate, I think around 190, for any batsman who has faced more than 250 balls. Absolutely amazing form,” De Villiers added.
For De Villiers, who has shared the dressing room with some of the greatest cricketers, Abhishek’s consistency and ability to dominate bowlers stand out in modern-day cricket. His assessment comes as a major endorsement for the youngster, who has steadily grown into a reliable match-winner for India.
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Sizzling performance in Asia cup 2025
De Villiers’ remarks came just after India’s sensational triumph in the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan in Dubai. The Men in Blue clinched the title with a five-wicket victory, underlining their supremacy in white-ball cricket.
While Abhishek has been in red-hot form throughout the tournament, the final belonged to Tilak Varma, who played a match-defining innings. Chasing a competitive target, Tilak anchored the innings with a brilliant 69, guiding India to victory in the high-pressure clash.
Although Abhishek could not make a big impact in the summit clash, his consistency across the competition was unmatched. He finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 314 runs in 7 games at a staggering strike rate of 200. His exceptional run earned him the Player of the Tournament award, making India’s Asia Cup victory a story of collective brilliance led by two of their brightest young stars.
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