Thursday, February 13, 2025
spot_img
HomeSportsAbhishek Sharma’s Record-Breaking 135 Shines In Final T20I, Marking The Rise Of...

Abhishek Sharma’s Record-Breaking 135 Shines In Final T20I, Marking The Rise Of India’s New Batting Star

Indian opener Abhishek Sharma delivered an unforgettable performance in the final T20I of the recently concluded series against England, blasting 135 runs off 54 balls at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, leaving the cricket world in awe. His brilliant knock, which featured 13 sixes and 7 fours, was more than just a match-winning innings—it was a statement to world cricket.

The stadium, packed with stars such as Mukesh Ambani, Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, and Abhishek Bachchan, witnessed Abhishek dismantling some of the best bowlers. Whether facing express pacers like Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, or Adil Rashid, the number one T20I bowler and England’s finest leg-spinner, Sharma sent every ball to the boundary with ease. His ability to handle high pace and spin with such aggression sent a message that, regardless of the bowler’s reputation or speed, Abhishek would dominate if the ball was in his hitting zone.

Abhishek’s remarkable innings set new records: his 135 is now the highest individual T20I score by an Indian, surpassing Shubman Gill’s 126* against New Zealand in 2023. His 13 sixes also broke the record for most sixes in an Indian T20I innings, eclipsing the previous record of 10 sixes by Rohit Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Tilak Varma.

In a milestone achievement, Abhishek also became the second player from a Test-playing nation, after Glenn Maxwell, to score a century and take multiple wickets in a T20I, having scored 135 runs and claimed two wickets for three runs in his first over.

Despite his high-risk style, which makes him a “boom or bust” player, Abhishek’s consistency has been growing. His recent performances signal that he could soon find a spot in India’s ODI squad and potentially become a white-ball cricket great.

Abhishek’s international journey began with a duck against Zimbabwe, but he responded by scoring a brilliant 47-ball century in his second T20I. After a string of low scores, the leadership of Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav remained confident in his talent. His recent knock in Centurion, a half-century against South Africa in November 2024, marked the start of a new chapter.

In just seven T20Is, Abhishek has accumulated 365 runs at an average of 73.00, with a strike rate of over 214, including a century and two half-centuries. His knock of 135 remains his highest score, but what stands out is his growing ability to rotate the strike and play grounded shots when required, showcasing maturity in his game.

Beyond his international performances, Abhishek’s consistency in domestic tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) and Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) further cements his reputation. In SMAT 2024, he scored 255 runs in seven innings at an average of 42.50, including a *century (106)**. In VHT, he emerged as the sixth-highest run-scorer, with 467 runs in eight innings at an average of 58.44, including a stunning 170 off 96 balls against Saurashtra.

In his last 22 innings, beginning with his fifty at Centurion, Abhishek has amassed 1,087 runs at an average of 51.76, with three centuries and six fifties. His T20I performances since SMAT 2023 are equally impressive, with 1,759 runs in 50 matches at an average of 37.42, a strike rate of 199.20, and 140 sixes.

Given his exceptional form, Abhishek Sharma is likely to be a fixture in India’s T20I lineup for years to come. With his current trajectory, it is only a matter of time before he is considered one of the greats in T20 cricket. Furthermore, his recent success in 50-over cricket suggests he may soon become a key player in India’s ODI squad as well.

RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular

Recent Comments