Abhishek Sharma: New Sixer power house
In a stunning display of talent and resilience, Abhishek Sharma has emerged as a new powerhouse in India’s batting lineup. Less than 24 hours after a disappointing debut, where he was dismissed for a duck in the first T20I against Zimbabwe, Abhishek turned the tables dramatically in the second T20I on July 7.
On his debut, chasing a modest target of 116, Abhishek was the first to fall, mistiming a pull shot straight to the backward square-leg fielder. Critics argued that Indian batters were too aggressive too early, but for Abhishek, this aggressive style is what brought him success in the 2024 IPL season.
However, in the second T20I, Abhishek, a 23-year-old from Punjab, showcased his aggressive approach by scoring a stunning century off just 46 balls. From a four-ball duck yesterday, his first scoring shot today was a six—a fitting start to his international run-scoring. He reached his half-century in the 11th over with another six and completed his hundred just three overs later with three consecutive sixes.
Abhishek’s innings wasn’t without its challenges. He experienced a brief period of consolidation, scoring only 10 runs off 15 balls between the fourth and eighth overs. During this phase, he was dropped on 27 by Wellington Masakadza, a mistake that proved costly for Zimbabwe. Seizing the opportunity, Abhishek exploded, scoring 72 runs off his next 22 balls.
Particularly impressive was Abhishek’s dominance against Zimbabwe’s spinners, who had previously choked India’s batting. He struck at a blistering strike rate of 203.1 against them, scoring 47 off 19 balls in the middle overs. His aggression against Sikandar Raza, the Player of the Match in the previous game, was a highlight. In the 11th over, he thrashed Dion Myers for three fours and two sixes, racing from 50 to 100 in just 13 balls—the joint second-fastest in T20I history.
Abhishek’s acceleration provided breathing space for his partner, Ruturaj Gaikwad, allowing him to settle and then accelerate. Together, they put on a 137-run partnership for the second wicket, with Abhishek contributing 93 off 43 balls. Gaikwad, who was 41 off 33 at Abhishek’s dismissal, finished with 77 off 47 balls. Their partnership laid the foundation for India’s mammoth total of 234, aided by a quickfire 87-run stand between Gaikwad and Rinku Singh (48* off 22).
Abhishek’s remarkable turnaround saw him become only the second player to follow a duck on his T20I debut with a century in the next game, joining the ranks of Evin Lewis who achieved this feat in 2016. Not only did he change his own fortunes, but he also revived India’s fortunes with a blistering assault on the spinners who had been pivotal in Zimbabwe’s previous victory.
Abhishek Sharma’s performance marks him as a new firepower in India’s batting lineup, showcasing his ability to turn the game around with his aggressive and fearless approach. As he continues to grow and evolve, Indian cricket fans can look forward to many more explosive innings from this young talent.
