Abhishek Sharma Praises Sanju Samson's Selflessness in T20 Victory

In a thrilling T20 International against New Zealand, Abhishek Sharma commended Sanju Samson for his selfless act of allowing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to take his place in the batting order. Sharma's explosive 113 runs off 38 balls, alongside Sooryavanshi's impressive 45, led India to victory. The young player shared his admiration for Sharma's performance and humorously reflected on how his village would react if the match hadn't been broadcasted live. This article delves into the camaraderie and team spirit that defines the Indian cricket squad.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 29, 2026, 00:09 IST

Abhishek Sharma Commends Sanju Samson's Generosity

Dynamic opener Abhishek Sharma expressed his admiration for his usual opening partner, Sanju Samson, who willingly gave up his batting position for the young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the third T20 International against New Zealand, a match that India clinched by six wickets.

Abhishek delivered an impressive performance, scoring 113 runs off just 38 balls, while forming a formidable partnership of 133 runs in just seven overs with Sooryavanshi, who contributed 45 runs from 19 balls after being elevated in the batting order.

Sooryavanshi stepped in due to Ishan Kishan's groin injury, but it was Samson who had previously earned the Player of the Match title with his 61 runs and later chose to make way for the younger player.

Abhishek remarked, 'Sanju bhai's performance in the last match was remarkable, and it takes a lot of character to relinquish a familiar batting position. This reflects the selflessness within our team, where everyone supports each other, a true sign of a great team spirit,' during a chat with Sooryavanshi facilitated by BCCI.TV.

Hitting 11 sixes, Abhishek also praised the 15-year-old for his aggressive start to the innings with a boundary on the first ball.

'Vaibhav's first shot was aggressive, and witnessing that from the non-striker's end was energizing. He deserves special recognition for his performance,' Abhishek noted, lauding the young prodigy.

In a light-hearted moment, Abhishek joked about Vaibhav's enthusiasm for batting, saying, 'If we have two nets, we let Vaibhav take one and say, ‘Vaibhav, you play.’

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Reflects on His Experience

Sooryavanshi, who was visibly impressed by Abhishek's rapid century, shared a humorous perspective on the match.

'The way Abhishek bhai played was extraordinary. If the match hadn't been broadcasted live, people in my village would have thought the score was from a rooftop game,' Sooryavanshi quipped.

In the previous match at Christchurch, where he batted at No. 3, Sooryavanshi managed only 4 runs off 8 balls and felt he had deviated from his usual playing style.

'In the last game, I didn't play to my strengths in T20s. For the third match, I aimed to provide a quick start to ease the pressure on the team,' he explained.