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Abhishek Sharma’s second T20I for India was a standout as he scored his maiden century, leading to a decisive 100-run victory that leveled the series with three matches remaining.
Despite a debut duck, Sharma’s remarkable innings of 100 runs off 47 balls, with a strike rate exceeding 200, included three consecutive sixes to reach the milestone—an unprecedented feat in T20I cricket. His partnership of 137 runs with Ruturaj Gaikwad set the foundation for India’s imposing total, further bolstered by Rinku Singh’s quickfire 48* off 22 balls.
India’s bowlers then sealed the match by dismissing Zimbabwe for just 134 runs, with Mukesh Kumar and Avesh Khan taking three wickets each, supported by Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar. The victory showcased India’s dominance in the second T20I encounter.
A heartwarming video of Abhishek Sharma’s family celebrating his century has circulated widely on social media, capturing their joy as he achieved this significant milestone. Sharma earned his spot in the Indian team following a stellar IPL season, where he amassed 484 runs in 16 innings for Sunrisers Hyderabad at a remarkable strike rate of 204.02.
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During his post-match interview, he emphasized following his instincts and adopting an aggressive approach that proved pivotal in achieving this milestone.
“I think it was a pretty good performance by me, the defeat we had yesterday, it wasn’t easy for us. I felt today was my day and I made it count. I feel T20 is about momentum and I took it to the end” the Southpaw said.
India staged a remarkable turnaround within 24 hours of their defeat in the first T20I on the same pitch. After struggling to chase 116 in the initial game, they dominated the second match, leaving Zimbabwe little opportunity to recover after setting a competitive target. Captain Shubman Gill commended his team’s resilience and effort in bouncing back strongly from the defeat in the first T20I.
“Very happy, great to be back on the winning note back again. Yesterday, it was more about not being able to handle the pressure, it’s a young side and many of them are new to international exposure. It was good to have pressure in the first game and we knew what to expect coming into this game. We have got three matches to go and we are looking forward to them” said Gill.
