“I haven’t seen a better T20 hundred against bowlers consistently clocking speeds of 140-150 kph,” said Gautam Gambhir, clearly awestruck by the sheer pace, power, and precision of Abhishek Sharma’s breathtaking innings, which became India’s highest individual T20I score. Abhishek was on a rampage, striking at a mind-boggling rate of 250 against bowlers charging in at lightning-fast speeds. Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, and Jamie Overton, all firing deliveries over 145 kmph, were left scrambling for cover at Wankhede on Sunday night.
Tilak Varma had already taken on Jofra Archer with ease, clearing the cover boundary in the previous game. At Wankhede, Abhishek raised the bar even higher—punishing Archer twice in quick succession, first over cover and then extra cover in the third over of the innings. Archer, once known as one of the most feared pacers, would leave India with his reputation shattered after the onslaught unleashed by Abhishek.
England’s captain, Jos Buttler, was quick to recognize the brilliance of the knock, stating, “That’s as clean a ball striking as I’ve seen. We always sit down and think about what more we could’ve done, but sometimes, you just have to give credit to the opposition. Abhishek played brilliantly.”
When Abhishek finally fell for 135, nearly every England player walked up to congratulate him on an innings that left the opposition and crowd in awe.
But Raj Kumar never discouraged his son’s attacking style. “Hitting big shots has been his game since he was 14-15. He brought that flair to the age-group tournaments,” Sharma Sr. recalled after watching Abhishek’s swashbuckling knock at Wankhede.
Abhishek’s remarkable 54-ball 135 featured over a dozen sixes, each more stunning than the last. Asked post-match about which six was his favorite, he responded, “I can’t remember them.” He had smashed 13 sixes, scattered all over the ground, along with seven equally impressive boundaries.
Six-Hitting Habit Since Childhood
Abhishek Sharma’s knack for clearing the ropes began at a young age. Coaches, staff, and players at Gandhi Stadium in Amritsar would often complain about the new Kookaburra, SG, and Duke balls disappearing into the stands. Frustrated, they would request his father, Raj Kumar Sharma, a respected coach, to rein in Abhishek’s natural aggression.
Rapid Strides Through IPL
Abhishek’s aggressive batting has been turning heads in the IPL, where he scored 426, 226, and 484 runs in the past three seasons. Last year, his mentor Yuvraj Singh had remarked that he wasn’t quite ready for international cricket. Fast forward ten months, and Abhishek has played 16 international matches, with Yuvraj acknowledging that the young talent has matured. “You will win games for India,” Yuvraj told him, a statement that fueled Abhishek’s determination.
Reflecting on Yuvraj’s influence, Abhishek said, “He believed in me. When someone like Yuvraj Singh tells you that you’re going to play for the country, you start believing it yourself.” The duo has worked closely for four years, with Yuvraj mentoring him during the off-seasons. “They would practice all day,” said Sharma Sr., recognizing the invaluable guidance provided by the former India all-rounder.
Discipline and Dedication
Abhishek follows a strict routine when not playing matches. He wakes up at 4 AM, meditates in isolation, and cycles with his face covered to avoid recognition. His daily regimen includes intense training, four hours in the nets, swimming, and yoga.
All of this hard work has paid off, earning Abhishek admiration from Gambhir and the cricketing world. With such dedication and skill, the future looks incredibly bright for this young batting sensation.