As India gear up for their Asia Cup 2025 opener against UAE on Wednesday, the spotlight on Tuesday’s optional practice session firmly rested on the blazing form of young IPL sensation Abhishek Sharma. The southpaw turned the nets into a personal exhibition of power-hitting.

Despite the absence of several senior players, including pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, both of whom opted to skip the session, the atmosphere at the practice ground remained electric. According to news agency PTI, the optional nature of the session also saw the likes of Kuldeep Yadav and Harshit Rana giving it a miss.