23-year-old Abhishek Sharma slammed his maiden T20I hundred on Sunday, 7 July while playing against Zimbabwe in the second match of the five-T20I series in Harare. Incidentally, he had begun his T20I career with a duck yesterday.
But in the second match of the series, Abhishek just blew away the Zimbabwe bowling lineup. This was after captain Shubman Gill departed early with India’s score on 10 runs. Abhishek then took the aggressor role, with Ruturaj Gaikwad providing the support.
Abhishek brought up his fifty in 33 balls but then raced to his hundred, which he completed in just 46 balls. He got to the landmark with three consecutive sixes and got out the very next ball after hitting 7 fours and 8 sixes.
Abhishek Sharma's mentality injected new life into the Indian team, as the teenager went after everything that was thrown his way. The batter discussed his strategy during the post-match presentation ceremony, stating that it was his day today.
"I think it was pretty much a good performance by me, the defeat we had yesterday we didn't have it easy for us. I felt today was my day and I made it count. I feel T20 is about momentum and I took it to the end. Special mention to the coach and team management, I always feel that as a youngster if it's your day, you have to express yourself. We were talking after every ball and he said to me that you should take it on. I always believe in my ability, if there's in my arc and even if it's the first ball," Sharma said after getting the Player of the tournament.
Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad put together a match-winning 137-run partnership to take the game away from Zimbabwe. Both batters played 47 balls in the innings. While Abhishek hit 100 off 47 balls, Gaikwad hit an unbeaten 77-run knock.
India posted 234/2 in 20 overs with Rinku Singh hammering 48* in 22 balls with 5 sixes and 2 fours.
In reply, Zimbabwe could only muster 134 runs and lost by 100 runs. For India, Mukesh Kumar and Avesh Khan picked three wickets each, while Ravi Bishnoi took 2 scalps.
After the match, India captain Shubman Gill was praiseful of Abhishek and Ruturaj Gaikwad and credited them for taking India to a winning total.
"Very happy, great to be back on the winning note back again. With the way Abhishek and Rutu batted, it was not easy especially in the powerplay, with the ball moving around but Abhi and Rutu built the innings brilliantly. Yesterday, it was more about not being able to handle the pressure, it's a young side and many of them are new to international exposure," Shubman said.
"It was actually good to have pressure in the first game and we knew what to expect coming into this game. We have got three matches to go and we are looking forward to them. It's always good to have more options rather than not having options," Shubman added.
The next T20I will be played on Wednesday at the same venue.
