Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, couldn’t hold back his admiration for Abhishek Sharma after the young opener delivered a stunning performance in the fifth T20I against England on February 2. The 24-year-old batter from Amritsar put on a spectacular show at Wankhede Stadium, scoring 135 runs off just 54 balls. His explosive knock included seven boundaries and a staggering 13 sixes, leaving fans and experts in awe.
Gambhir, who took over as India’s head coach in July 2024, described Abhishek’s century as the best T20 hundred he has ever witnessed. Speaking on Star Sports after the match, he emphasized the team’s commitment to playing fearless cricket. He stressed the importance of backing young talents like Abhishek and urged patience, believing that this aggressive mindset is key to India’s future success. “We are going to do this going forward; we have to play fearless cricket. We want to keep supporting players like Abhishek Sharma. I haven’t seen a better T20 hundred, especially against bowlers consistently delivering at 140-150 kph,” Gambhir stated.
Opening the innings for India, Abhishek reached his half-century in just 17 balls and raced to his century in 37 deliveries. His remarkable innings not only made him the sixth Indian batter to score multiple centuries in T20Is but also earned him the record for the most runs and most sixes in a single T20I match for the Men in Blue.
His incredible knock set the tone for India’s dominance after Jos Buttler opted to bowl first. Riding on Abhishek’s heroics, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side posted a massive total and cruised to a commanding 150-run victory, sealing the series 4-1.
Looking ahead, Gautam Gambhir hinted that India will maintain the same aggressive intent in the upcoming three-match ODI series, which kicks off on February 6 in Nagpur. With the team embracing this fearless approach, fans can expect an exciting brand of cricket in the matches to come.
