Abhishek Sharma has credited the Indian Premier League for a smooth transition for the youngsters who debuted for India. Abhishek, playing just his second T20I, showed his stunning show from IPL 2024 and smashed a match-winning 46-ball hundred. His century ensured the series was level as India defeated Zimbabwe in the second T20I.
“I think IPL plays a big role in this because as a youngster, as a debutant, we didn’t feel much pressure when we came to represent the country,” Abhishek said. “It’s always a great motivation once you are playing for the country. Unfortunately it didn’t go well in yesterday’s game, but my mindset and intent was same. I had a word with the other debutants too, we’ve all played cricket together a long time, since U14 days I’d say. I think it’s all about approach in T20, about intent. If I show intent and if it is my day, it usually goes like this.”
He also credited former India allrounder Yuvraj Singh’s contribution to his game. He also hit eight sixes in his whirlwind knock.
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“All this is due to the hard work I’ve done,” he said. “Special thanks to my dad who always encouraged me to play lofted shots even when I was a kid. Usually coaches don’t allow you to play lofted shots much. My dad used to tell me that if you want to play a lofted shot, it should go out of the ground. For me, it’s always been there from my childhood that if I’m confident, I like to express myself.”
The talented and young opener also revealed that he had used Shubman Gill’s bat for the game, something he has done in the past as well. Notably, both of them come from the same state and had grown up playing together as well.
“The journey has been very beautiful,” Abhishek Sharma said. “When we started playing, we were around 10-11 years and we have been playing since U12 together. The ultimate goal was to represent the country. I have said this before that the first call I got (about selection) was from Shubman, he was very happy. I played with his [Shubman’s] bat today and it went really well, special thanks to him for the bat. This happens from the U12 days, whenever I think it’s a pressure game or it’s a match I should perform, I take his bat. Even in the IPL, I ask for his bat. Even today it went really well.”
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Abhishek Sharma also stated that the players were disappointed after losing the opening game of the series vs Zimbabwe, especially given the fact that the first-choice squad had just won the T20 World Cup recently..
“Losing a game like that after the country has won a T20 World Cup was disappointing for the players. But still, we were all youngsters and have been playing together and against each other since childhood. So none of us went into our shells after losing, we were instead all together and thinking about the hard work we put in all those years and how this is the ultimate goal for all of us, so we should enjoy and focus on the next thing. Mindset was to forget what has happened and focus on the next match,” Abhishek Sharma concluded.
