Dinesh Karthik has picked the finest opener in the world at the moment.

Karthik has backed a young Indian star whose fearless batting has made headlines with a string of breathtaking performances.

The competition for the title of the best opening batter in world cricket is fierce, with several explosive players delivering remarkable performances across international cricket. Picking one standout name from the pool of talented openers is never straightforward, particularly in the T20 format, where consistency and the ability to dominate bowlers are equally important. However, former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has revealed his choice for the world’s best opener at present, backing a young Indian star whose fearless batting has made headlines with a string of breathtaking performances.

Dinesh Karthik picks best opener in the world at present

Karthik backed Abhishek Sharma as the finest opener in the world right now following the youngster’s sensational performances in T20 International cricket. Notably, Abhishek has established himself as one of India’s most dangerous batters in the shortest format, combining fearless strokeplay with an impressive ability to deliver match-defining innings. His recent exploits against New Zealand have further strengthened his reputation, prompting Karthik to dismiss concerns surrounding one aspect of his batting.

Speaking on Cricbuzz, Karthik expressed his admiration for Abhishek’s consistency and explained why occasional dismissals against off-spin should not be viewed as a significant weakness in his game. The former India batter pointed out that Abhishek has been producing impactful performances regularly rather than delivering a big innings only once every five or six matches. According to Karthik, the frequency of his explosive contributions demonstrates how effectively the left-hander has adapted to international cricket.

“He’s not producing such knocks every 5 or 6 innings, he is doing it in every 2 or 3 innings now. If he is getting out to off-spinners, if he does after hitting 30 off 10 or 12, it is okay. If he is getting out in the first two balls, he doesn’t know which way it is turning, or his technique is a problem, then it is a point of discussion,” said Karthik.

He further highlighted Abhishek’s ability to attack off-spin, recalling how the opener scored 15 runs off just four deliveries against Michael Bracewell in the latter’s first over. Karthik believes such examples make it difficult to label off-spin as a major concern. He explained that getting dismissed after scoring quickly is different from struggling to read the ball from the beginning of an innings.

“He got 15 runs in 4 balls against Michael Bracewell in his first over. For a guy who is supposedly weak against off-spin. You take that any day, and you shouldn’t even be discussing it as a problem. It is just a matter of fact that he gets out to off-spin sometimes. That’s about it; there is nothing to worry about. I feel like he is the best opener in the world right now. For some time, he has shown that,” added Karthik.

Why Karthik’s pick makes sense?

Karthik’s assessment is supported by Abhishek’s remarkable numbers and his growing influence on India’s T20I batting approach. The left-hander has demonstrated that he can put opposition bowlers under pressure almost immediately, making him an invaluable asset at the top of the order.

One of his standout achievements was scoring 113 runs off just 35 deliveries, registering his fourth T20I century. The innings was the joint second-fastest hundred by an Indian batter in the format and underlined his extraordinary ability to accelerate without needing an extended period to settle in.

His knock also became the highest individual score by an Indian batter in a successful T20I run chase, surpassing the previous record. Such performances highlight his importance in situations where India need to chase demanding targets against quality opposition.

Another remarkable aspect was India’s powerplay assault, which produced 118 runs, the highest powerplay total in men’s T20I history. Youngster Vaibhav Suryavanshi also contributed to the devastating start, complementing Abhishek’s aggressive approach.