Abhishek Sharma gets two lifelines as Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis turn Pakistani and drop sitters in Brisbane

India National cricket team Explosive opening batsman Abhishek Sharma was very fortunate in the fifth and final T20I match of the series against the Australia National Cricket Team.

Abhishek Sharma was given a lifeline early in the innings as Glenn Maxwell and Bakar Ben Dwarshuis brought down the controls at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, on Saturday, 8 November.

Abhishek Sharma escapes eviction twice

Left-handed opener Abhishek looked in good form in the ongoing T20I series against Australia, but played just one knock.

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In the opening match of the T20I series, Abhishek scored 19 runs before scoring an exceptional 68 in the second match at the MCG. He looked good in the third and fourth games, scoring 25 and 28 points.

He was scheduled to bowl his first score of the series against the Australian, but thanks to blunders by the opposition players, it did not happen.

First, Glenn Maxwell dropped Abhishek Sharma on the fifth ball of the first ball. Ben Dwarshwis bowled a full-length delivery around the off stump to Abhishek, who looked to fire it down the ground for a six.

However, he was unable to connect well with the ball and made the mistake of passing it straight. Glenn Maxwell came under the ball, it was an easy chance, but he missed it and gave a lifeline to the Indian opener.

Then, in the third ball of the fourth ball, Ben Dwarshwis himself dropped Abhishek. Nathan Ellis, who got Abhishek’s number, once again managed to trap him.

Abhishek got a thick overhead edge from a pass from Nathan Ellis, and Dwarshuis got under the ball comfortably, but dropped the ball in a bizarre manner.

At the time of writing, the explosive opening batsman is unbeaten on 23 off 13 balls, with one four and a six, as the match was halted due to bad weather and rain in the city.

Watch: Abhishek Sharma gets two lifelines

Abhishek Sharma will be counting his lucky stars after falling twice 😱 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/m09aIMajBA

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 8, 2025

Abhishek made the most of the reprieves he was given and became the fastest player in history to score 1,000 T20I runs as he took just 528 balls to reach the milestone. In terms of innings, he is the second fastest Indian to reach the milestone, with 28 innings, while Virat Kohli sits at the top with 27 innings.

Batsmen need to give themselves a try before continuing with the bowling – Parthiv Patel

Speaking before the start of the play, former Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel gave a report on the pitch and said:

“We’re at The Gabba, Brisbane, for the fifth and final T20I. There are some cracks in the middle. It’s tough. The new fast bowlers will get some help. Even the grass cover. The ball will reach the bat well. The batsmen need to give themselves a shot before continuing with the bowling. Overall, a good batting surface.”

Also Read: India-Australia 5th T20I halted as lightning strikes Brisbane; Players and spectators were evacuated from the ground