The southpaw slammed 84 off 35 balls with 5 fours and 8 sixes.
Abhishek Sharma starred with the bat in India’s 48-run victory over New Zealand in the first T20I at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur on Wednesday (January 18).
The left-handed opener slammed 84 off 35 balls with 5 fours and 8 sixes to lay the foundation of India’s mammoth score of 238/7 in 20 overs.
In reply, the Kiwis were restricted to 190/7 as the hosts gained a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
After earning the Player-of-the-Match award, Abhishek said he does not believe in range-hitting and instead backs his instincts and timing, stressing the importance of adapting to conditions.
"I haven't noticed, but he was talking about it. Still, it's just the things we've been following from day one that we had a plan that we want to play this kind of cricket, and that's what we are just following," the southpaw said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
"One thing I've figured out is that if you want to hit all the balls properly, if you want to play at the striking of 200 or something, you have to be carrying that intent, and you have to practice a lot for that.
“Because, if you see all these teams, they always have a plan for me. So far, I think it's just not the fielding; it's all about the pitching and the bowling as well. So it's about the week preparation I've been doing before the games, because I've got two, three days, or maybe a week before this. I knew in my mind that I'm gonna get challenged by these bowlers, and I have this mind. But obviously, I'm gonna back my instincts, and I've been practicing for a long time," he elaborated.
Asked if his approach was high-risk, Abhishek replied, "I don't feel it's a high risk, but for me, it's, I feel this is my - I wouldn't say it's my comfort zone, but it's like I've always wanted to be in first because they want to give you the first six overs and that's what I've been practicing before the nets as well.
“That was always in my mind if I do, because if you see all the bowlers, all the main bowlers from all the teams, they bowl first, second, three overs probably. If I get scores in the first three or four overs, then we have always got the upper hand."
Abhishek emphasized that timing rather than power was central to his T20 game. "If you see, I would never do a range hitting because I'm not that strong a kind of guy, and you gotta ride the ball a long way. But it's just, I feel more off the timing.
“So, for me, I have to just watch the ball and get used to the conditions because if you see, if we're playing all over India right now, and so I have to adapt to the conditions really quick. For that, I plan a day before, probably whether I get a net session. So, that's always in my mind because these gonna bowlers are gonna bowl here and they got some plans, so I have to be back in as well," he added.
On choosing which deliveries to attack, Abhishek explained, "I feel that if you watch videos or if you watch your batting videos as well, you get an idea of where the ball is gonna plan to bowl you or maybe where I'm gonna play my shots. But it's always about me backing my shots because I don't have a lot of shots. It's just a few shots I'm gonna practice a lot about that, and I'll just execute it."
He also spoke about his slip fielding role in the field. "I mean, of course, Shubman was the first choice for that, but obviously, I enjoy a lot of slip fielding and have been working really hard with Dilip sir as well because he's the man who's really behind all our fielding efforts, and so credit goes to him."