Abhishek Sharma contributed the blistering century displayed in just 47 balls to using the current captain and his childhood friend Shubhman Gill's bat for the second T20I of India against Zimbabwe. Terming it as a "lucky charm" in what he described as a high-pressure game, Abhishek made a scintillating comeback from being dismissed for a duck in the previous match with seven fours and eight sixes, setting up India's commanding 100-run victory.
Abhishek reflected on the long-standing camaraderie he has shared with Gill, starting from under-12 days: "It has been quite a beautiful journey starting as kids aged 11-12. We have been playing together since then. When I got selected for the national team, the first call I received was from Shubman."
Abhishek pointed to his habit of using Gill's bat, which had crossed over from their junior cricket days. "Today, I batted with his bat so special thanks to the bat. This has been a ritual since our under-12 days. Whenever I have a pressure situation, I use his bat," he revealed that he had done similar things even in IPL matches.
Abhishek, synonymous with former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh and his influence, along with his father, in playing fearless cricket with the willow, said, "Yuvi paaji has had a big impact. I don't call myself any sort of six-hitting specialist or anything like that. I also have to thank my dad for always letting me play my natural game of playing lofted shots.". Most coaches tell young batsmen not to try and play any lofted shots, but my dad always said: "If you're going to hit it, hit it out of the park." I've tried to stick to that philosophy.
Asked how he coped with the pressure of a T20I debut, Abhishek talked about how IPL experience had helped in making the transition easier. "The IPL has played a crucial role in preparing us for this level. We didn't feel overwhelmed making our debut for the country," he said as he reflected on his disappointing start to the tour - he was dismissed without scoring in the first match. "My mindset and approach remained the same — to play with intent."
Reflecting on his contrasting performances in the two games, Abhishek noted improvements in his execution during the second game. "Today, my execution was better compared to yesterday. I assessed the risks early in deciding whether to attack from the very start or play according to the ball's merit," he analyzed. "If I start with a boundary or sixes in the first couple of overs, then I feel that it's going to be my day."
With his fearless and at the same time very calculated approach, Abhishek Sharma rolled out an innings that was nothing but a question of getting into the limelight his talent and how important friendship and mentorship really were in his journey through cricket.
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