Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh shared a heartfelt message for his protégé Abhishek Sharma after the young batter roared back to form in India’s crucial Super 8 clash against the Zimbabwe national cricket team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. India entered the match under pressure after a heavy defeat to South Africa, making the contest a must-win for the defending champions. However, the Indian batting lineup responded in emphatic fashion at Chennai, producing one of their most dominant displays of the tournament.
A powerful collective performance helped the India national cricket team post a massive 256/4 in 20 overs before sealing a comfortable 72-run victory that knocked Zimbabwe out of semifinal contention. The innings was built on aggressive contributions throughout the order. Sanju Samson set the tone early with a brisk 24 off just 15 balls, providing India with quick momentum during the powerplay.
At the other end, Abhishek finally found his rhythm, smashing a confident half-century—his maiden T20 World Cup fifty. Middle-order batters Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav added valuable runs before a late onslaught from Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma pushed India to a daunting total.
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Hardik Pandya remained unbeaten on a blazing 50 from just 23 balls, while Tilak hammered 44 off 16 deliveries to finish the innings with a flourish. After the match, Yuvraj took to Instagram to praise Abhishek’s comeback knock, highlighting the youngster’s resilience after a difficult start to the tournament.
“The best chatter is when you let the bat do all the talking! Good innings sir Abhishek, keep pushing,” Yuvraj Singh wrote in his Instagram story.
Abhishek’s return to form was particularly significant given his struggles earlier in the tournament. The 25-year-old began his T20 World Cup campaign with three consecutive ducks and managed just 15 runs in the match against South Africa. The lean run had put him under considerable pressure.
Speaking after the innings, Abhishek Sharma admitted he had been waiting patiently for the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the team.
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“It’s always great when you contribute to the team. I was waiting for this moment for quite a long time, so I’m really happy it has finally happened,” he said.
The youngster also acknowledged the support he received from teammates and team management throughout his difficult phase, crediting their belief for helping him regain confidence at a crucial stage of the tournament.
