Abhishek Sharma's remarkable performance in the fifth and final T20I against England at the Wankhede Stadium left a lasting impact, both for India and for himself.
His blistering 54-ball 135, which included 13 sixes—the most by an Indian in a T20I innings—was a testament to his aggressive style of play.
His knock guided India to a commanding 247/9 in 20 overs, and he backed it up with a stellar bowling performance, claiming 2 wickets for just 3 runs, contributing to England's collapse to 97 all out, securing a 150-run victory for India.
The 24-year-old's performance earned praise from his mentor, Yuvraj Singh, who congratulated him on "X" (formerly Twitter), acknowledging his achievement. Yuvraj, who is known for his own explosive batting in T20s, expressed pride in seeing his mentee perform at the highest level.
Abhishek credited his success to the support he received from skipper Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir, both of whom backed his aggressive approach to batting. His knock was made even more special by the presence of his mother and sister in the stands, adding a personal touch to his achievement.
Abhishek's blistering start, including the second-fastest Indian fifty off 17 balls and the second-fastest hundred off 37 balls, put him in the spotlight. He narrowly missed breaking Yuvraj Singh's record for the fastest fifty (15 balls) and Rohit Sharma’s record for the quickest century (35 balls).
Reflecting on his ability to handle England's top fast bowlers, Abhishek mentioned the importance of being prepared for deliveries over 140-150 km/h and just reacting to the ball. His clean hits against world-class bowlers like Jofra Archer were particularly notable, but he also expressed his appreciation for his shots against spinner Adil Rashid.
For Abhishek, this match was a dream come true, especially as he felt a special connection to the moment, backed by the trust of his captain and coach. It was a game where everything seemed to align for him, with the right mindset, support, and timing.
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