Abhishek Sharma Shines as India Clinches Series Against New Zealand
Abhishek Sharma's Stellar Performance
In Wellington, New Zealand, on October 27, India’s opener Abhishek Sharma playfully engaged with his mentor Yuvraj Singh's light-hearted jibe regarding his inability to score a half-century in just 12 balls, a feat Yuvraj accomplished during the 2007 T20 World Cup against England.
While chasing a target of 199 runs in 20 overs, India triumphed with a remarkable performance from Abhishek Sharma, who scored an explosive 113 runs off just 38 balls, hitting 11 sixes and nine fours, leading the team to a six-wicket victory in a mere 13.2 overs.
Yuvraj humorously pointed out on Instagram that Abhishek still hadn't matched his record of a 12-ball fifty, as Sharma reached his half-century in 15 balls and completed his century in just 35 deliveries.
In response to Yuvraj's playful banter after being named Player of the Match, Abhishek remarked, "I’ve mentioned this before; I’m not sure what cricket he was playing back then (smiles). Scoring a fifty in 12 balls is no easy task. However, our focus is solely on winning for the team," he stated during the post-match presentation.
Yuvraj, who has guided Abhishek in the early phases of his career, holds the record for the fastest half-century in men’s T20Is among Full Member nations, achieving it in just 12 balls against England in the inaugural T20 World Cup in Durban in 2007. He is also renowned for hitting six sixes in one over off Stuart Broad during that match.
Discussing his batting strategy, Abhishek emphasized the importance of enjoying their time at the crease with 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and capitalizing on the favorable conditions. He also acknowledged the invaluable support from the coaching staff and side-arm bowlers that contributed to his innings.
Sooryavanshi played a significant role as well, scoring 45 runs off 19 balls, and together, the opening duo forged a formidable 133-run partnership for the first wicket.
Abhishek explained, "The key was simple—Vaibhav and I wanted to enjoy our time. While fielding, we noticed some extra bounce and targeted the shorter side. Vaibhav started strong, and we built momentum from there. It’s not easy, but it comes down to preparation. A huge shoutout to our coaching staff and side-arm bowlers. We had a productive practice session yesterday, and I aimed to utilize it. I manifested this innings, and it came to fruition."
The duo dismantled the New Zealand bowling attack with a blend of power hitting and aggressive tactics, leaving the hosts struggling to keep up with the scoring pace.
Earlier, the Indian bowlers had successfully limited New Zealand to 198 runs, setting a challenging yet attainable target for their batters. India completed the chase with 40 balls to spare, showcasing their dominance throughout the match.
This victory also secured the five-match series for India with two games remaining. The team is set to head to Auckland for the fourth T20I at Eden Park on Friday, aiming to continue their winning streak before the final match of the tour.