Abhishek Sharma produced one of the most explosive innings of his T20I career against Afghanistan, but the Indian opener revealed that a simple message from his mentor Yuvraj Singh helped him approach the innings differently.
Playing in the third and final T20I in New Delhi on Thursday, Abhishek smashed a century from just 30 balls. He eventually finished with 108 runs off 34 deliveries, helping India post 221/7 and win the match by 127 runs. His century was the fastest by an Indian in T20Is, surpassing Rohit Sharma’s previous record of 35 balls. It was also the fastest T20I hundred in a match between two full-member nations.
The 26-year-old said Yuvraj had texted him before the match with a reminder not to force every delivery. Instead, the former India all-rounder advised him to wait for balls in his hitting range and rotate the strike when necessary.
Abhishek followed that advice without losing his aggressive approach. He raced to his half-century in only 16 balls before accelerating further and reaching three figures in the ninth over. He hit 11 sixes and nine fours during his remarkable 34-ball knock.
The advice was particularly relevant because Abhishek had entered the Afghanistan series after a difficult period. He had struggled for runs during India’s previous series in Zimbabwe, creating questions around his form and place at the top of the order.
Instead of allowing that pressure to affect him, Abhishek responded strongly. He scored 82 in the opening match against Afghanistan, followed it with 39 in the second game and then produced the record-breaking 108 in the series finale.
Across the three matches, he accumulated 229 runs and provided India with aggressive starts in every game.
Yuvraj has played an important role in Abhishek’s development, particularly in helping the young left-hander understand how to balance attacking cricket with patience. That balance was evident in Delhi, where Abhishek did not attempt to attack every delivery but waited for opportunities before unleashing his shots.
India's explosive start laid the foundation for a huge total. Abhishek and his opening partner helped India race away during the powerplay before the innings eventually ended at 221/7.
Afghanistan struggled in the chase and were bowled out for 94. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravi Bishnoi picked up three wickets each as India completed a 127-run victory and sealed a 3-0 series sweep.
For Abhishek, the match represented a strong response after a period of criticism. His three-match run showed both consistency and the ability to produce a match-defining innings when given the opportunity.
The record century also added another milestone to his growing T20I career. He has now scored multiple international hundreds at extraordinary speed, further establishing his reputation as one of India's most aggressive options at the top of the batting order.
And behind the spectacular numbers was a simple piece of advice from Yuvraj: do not force every ball, wait for the right opportunity and keep the team’s result in mind.
Reader Comments 0