India vs Zimbabwe: Abhishek Sharma Borrows Star Players Bat, Scored T20I Century, Expresses Gratitude

Photo : AFP

Abhishek Sharma played a pivotal role in India's comprehensive 100-run victory over Zimbabwe by scoring an even hundred, which included seven fours and eight sixes. This remarkable performance came a day after a disappointing first match where he was dismissed for a duck.

In the second T20I, Abhishek revealed that he used the bat of his childhood friend and current captain, Shubman Gill. Describing the bat as a "lucky charm" in high-pressure games, Abhishek highlighted the special bond and journey he shares with Gill, which began when they were just 11 or 12 years old. “It has been quite beautiful, starting as kids of 11-12 years. Yeah, we are playing together from Under-12. When I was selected for the country, the first call I received was from Shubman,” Abhishek shared in the post-match press conference.

Abhishek explained that using Gill’s bat has been a longstanding practice from their age-group cricket days, especially during pressure situations. “Today, I played with his bat, so special thanks to the bat. It happened from the under-12 days, as whenever I play a pressure game I ask him for a bat. It had happened in the IPL as well. Today was no exception as it went well as it usually happens,” he said.

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He also expressed gratitude towards former India batter Yuvraj Singh and his father for encouraging him to play fearless cricket. “Yuvi paaji (Yuvraj Singh) has made a big contribution. I don't consider myself as sixer-king or something like that. Special thanks to my dad for allowing me to play lofted shots. Generally, coaches don't allow a young batter to hit lofted shots. But my dad always said if you wanted to play a lofted shot then it should go out of the ground. So, I wanted to follow that,” Abhishek elaborated.

Reflecting on his mindset and approach, Abhishek credited the Indian Premier League (IPL) for helping him handle pressure, which was evident during his T20I debut despite his initial setback. “I think the IPL plays a big role in this (handling pressure). We did not feel much pressure when we came here to represent the country as debutants. Unfortunately, we didn't start well in the first match. But my mindset and approach were pretty much similar – to show the right intent.”

Despite being dismissed for a four-ball duck in the first match, Abhishek maintained his aggressive approach. “This is my game and I will go for the shot from the first ball if it's there in my slot. If it's my day then it works out, and if it does not, then I don't mind. I practice a lot for this mindset,” he explained.

Abhishek acknowledged that his execution was much better in the second match. “Of course, my execution was better today than yesterday. I was just calculating the risk that I should take in the first over, or whether to play according to the merit of the ball. Whenever I get boundaries or sixes in the first few balls then I believe that it's my day,” he concluded.

This outstanding performance not only solidified Abhishek Sharma’s place in the team but also underscored the importance of resilience, preparation, and the influence of supportive mentors and friends in shaping a successful cricket career.