Hyderabad: Former South Africa great AB de Villiers has urged Abhishek Sharma to embrace greater responsibility ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season, stating that the young opener must now evolve beyond his “erratic” phase.

The Sunrisers Hyderabad batter, who has impressed with explosive performances in recent seasons, faces growing expectations as he enters a crucial phase of his career.

Time to step up

De Villiers pointed out that Sharma, now 25, is no longer an emerging youngster and must begin delivering consistent performances.

“He’s 25, not 20 anymore. This is definitely the phase where he has to start taking more responsibility,” de Villiers said during a discussion.

While acknowledging Sharma’s talent, the former cricketer noted that inconsistency remains a concern, especially during high-pressure tournaments.

Inconsistency remains a concern

Despite his aggressive batting style and impressive strike rate, Sharma’s performances have often fluctuated.

De Villiers highlighted his underwhelming T20 World Cup campaign, where Sharma struggled for consistency despite finishing strongly in the final.

“He was a little inconsistent during the T20 World Cup. He had a good finish in the final, but otherwise it was a quiet tournament. He was erratic at times,” he said.

Strong IPL record but room for improvement

Sharma has been one of SRH’s key performers, scoring over 400 runs in each of the last two IPL seasons at a strike rate close to 200. His aggressive approach at the top of the order has made him a vital asset for the team.

However, de Villiers believes that while these numbers are impressive, there is still room for growth.

“He had an unbelievable IPL 2025, averaging in the 30s and scoring at a high strike rate, but it could have been better. Once again, consistency comes to mind,” he noted.

Handling pressure and expectations

With success comes pressure, and de Villiers warned that Sharma must learn to handle expectations, especially as one of the top-ranked T20I batters.

“Expectation is the most dangerous word in cricket. When you feel like the whole world is closing in on you, it’s up to you to fight those mental battles,” he said.

The former South African captain stressed that mental strength will be key to Sharma’s long-term success.

Improving game awareness

De Villiers also advised Sharma to develop a better understanding of match situations and opposition bowlers.

Using the example of facing top pacers like Jasprit Bumrah, he emphasised the importance of adapting one’s approach rather than attacking blindly.

“A bowler comes on — suppose it’s Bumrah — and the game is on the line. Do you attack him or respect it and rotate strike? That’s where you have to be true to yourself,” he explained.

He added that recognising threats and adjusting strategy accordingly is the “missing link” in Sharma’s game.

Conclusion: Key season ahead for Abhishek Sharma

As IPL 2026 approaches, Abhishek Sharma stands at a defining point in his career. With proven talent and explosive ability, the challenge now lies in achieving consistency and maturity.

If he can fine-tune his approach and handle pressure effectively, Sharma has the potential to become one of the most complete T20 batters in the game.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by News Karnataka staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)