Abhishek Sharma played a breathtaking knock in the fifth T20I against England, smashing a 37-ball century the second-fastest by an Indian in men’s T20Is. His explosive innings of 135 off 54 balls helped India secure a dominant 150-run victory and wrap up the series 4-1. After the match, Abhishek credited Suryakumar Yadav for guiding him during his innings.
"I was so focused on my batting that I didn’t even realize my score," Abhishek said. "I asked Surya paaji for advice when a wicket fell, and he told me to take a couple of balls to settle in. That helped me, and I feel my hundred happened because of his support."
Abhishek started aggressively, reaching his fifty in just 17 balls. By the ninth over, he was on 94 off 32 balls, close to breaking Rohit Sharma’s record for the fastest T20I century by an Indian (35 balls). While he missed that milestone, his final score of 135 became the highest individual score by an Indian in men’s T20Is.
"I never thought about batting till the end; I just reacted to the ball," he explained. "When I was in the 80s or 90s, Surya paaji reminded me that I had played well and should take a couple of balls. Later, Hardik paaji and Axar also advised me to play according to the situation. Their experience really helped."
With India not scheduled to play another T20I soon, Abhishek’s performance was well-timed. His explosive batting could put him in contention for future matches, even when regular openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill return. However, Abhishek insists there is no rivalry between them.
"We’ve been playing together since U-16, and our only dream was to represent India. Now that all three of us are playing, it feels amazing," he said.
Abhishek has been a key figure in India's aggressive T20 approach. Since the start of the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), he has scored 1893 runs in T20 cricket at a strike rate of 199.47 better than anyone else in the world during this period.
His fearless batting helped Punjab win the SMAT and played a crucial role for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024.
Reflecting on his evolution as a batter, Abhishek said, "Before that season, I worked hard to improve my batting approach. I practiced match scenarios in open nets, and when I saw the results, I decided to back myself. Brian Lara once told me to play my shots but avoid getting out, and that advice stuck with me." He also acknowledged the role of Yuvraj Singh in shaping his mindset.
"Yuvi paaji has always believed in me. He told me I would play for India and win games, and when someone like him says that, you start believing in yourself too. I talk to him after every match because he understands my game better than I do," Abhishek said.
Support from his captain and coaches has also given him confidence. "When your captain and coach tell you they back you completely, it’s the biggest motivation for a young player. In South Africa, Hardik paaji and Surya paaji told me I would definitely score runs, and that belief helped me. Now, with Gauti paaji (Gautam Gambhir) as head coach, I feel even more encouraged."
With such strong support and a fearless approach, Abhishek Sharma has announced himself as a key player for India’s T20 future.
Updated on 04 February, 2025 by MyFortune11 Team.