Abhishek Sharma's Father Celebrates Son's Record-Breaking Century Against New Zealand
Rajkumar Sharma Praises Abhishek's Historic Performance
Rajkumar Sharma, the father of India's dynamic opener Abhishek Sharma, expressed immense pride in his son's remarkable century during the third T20I against New Zealand. He described the innings as 'truly spectacular' and expressed hopes that Abhishek continues to deliver such performances, contributing to India's victories. Abhishek scored an impressive 113 runs off just 38 balls, hitting 11 sixes and nine fours, leading India to a six-wicket win in Wellington and securing a 3-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
Rajkumar Attributes Success to Coaching and Community Support
In a statement made in Amritsar, Rajkumar remarked, 'Abhishek's innings today was nothing short of spectacular; he even set a world record. His progress is a result of the love and blessings from the people of Amritsar. As his father and former coach, I am grateful for the guidance he now receives from esteemed coaches like Yuvraj Singh, Rahul Dravid, Brian Lara, VVS Laxman, and currently, Gautam Gambhir. I hope they continue to support Abhishek, and I wish for him to keep playing such innings and winning matches for India.'
India's Commanding Victory in Wellington
In pursuit of a target of 199 runs, India started strong, with Abhishek and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scoring 118 runs in the Powerplay without losing a wicket. Abhishek reached his half-century in just 15 balls and completed his century in 35 deliveries, marking one of the fastest hundreds in men's T20I history. He was eventually dismissed by Kyle Jamieson after scoring 113, having set India on a solid path to victory. Sooryavanshi also contributed significantly, scoring 45 runs off 19 balls, including four sixes and four fours. India successfully chased down the target in just 13.2 overs, finishing with 40 balls remaining.
Earlier, New Zealand, batting first, managed to post 198/3, thanks to Daryl Mitchell's unbeaten 89 runs off 52 balls and Bevon Jacobs' 39 runs off 23 balls. Finn Allen added 40 runs off 25 balls, while Mitchell and Jacobs formed a crucial 75-run partnership for the fourth wicket. For India, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, and Nitish Kumar Reddy each took a wicket. This victory solidified India's dominance in the series, giving them an unassailable 3-0 lead.