The boy turns a man: Abhishek Sharma sets the Wankhede on fire, shows he is there for the long run

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His 'Abhishek' had happened when he was playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. Without much of an international exposure, young Abhishek Sharma outscored a pro like Australia's Travis Head.

Those who saw him in action knew that this young boy from Punjab will surely make it big. Of course, there was Big B (Amitabh Bachchan) with his son Abhishek in the stands at the Wankhede to watch the fifth T20 match between India and England but this 'Son from the land of Sardar' was simply unstoppable.

Mumbai's Wankhede has always been a paradise for big hitters, but Abhishek took it to another level on Sunday. Smashing 13 out of India's 19 sixes is just insane - pure mayhem. His clean striking and fearless approach are exactly what India needs at the top in T20Is. This kind of knock not only cements his place in the team but also puts pressure on senior batters who aren't performing. If he continues this form, he could be India's next big thing in T20 cricket.

Mind you, this isn't just a one-off carnage, there will be more coming our way from Abhishek. The journey as we all can see had just begun. Abhishek's knock against England's pace attack was nothing short of a statement. The way he dismantled their bowling shows he's not just another young talent - he's a serious contender for India's future in white-ball cricket.

With the T20 World Cup next year, his spot looks almost locked in if he keeps this up. And with Rohit Sharma nearing the end of his ODI career, Abhishek could easily transition into the 50-over format too. In fact, his aggressive intent might just be what India needs to refresh their approach in ODIs.

As for Shubman Gill, the pressure is definitely mounting. He's been India's golden boy in ODIs, but Abhishek's rise means Gill can't afford to have an extended lean patch. Competition for spots is heating up, and that's only good for Indian cricket.