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India opener Abhishek Sharma has stirred the cricketing world with a surprising revelation about Rahul Dravid. While Sharma didn’t get the chance to play under Dravid at the senior level, he vividly recalls their time together during his Under-19 days. Before taking over as India’s head coach, Dravid had successfully mentored both the India U-19 and India A teams.
Dravid, renowned for his serene demeanor and exceptional batting prowess, has long been esteemed as one of cricket’s gentlest personalities. However, Sharma’s recent disclosure suggests there’s more to Dravid than meets the eye. According to Sharma, during the 2018 Under-19 World Cup match against Bangladesh, Dravid instructed the Indian team to reciprocate the verbal aggression they were receiving from the Bangladesh players. This unexpected directive from Dravid provided a glimpse of his strategic and assertive side, contrasting with his typically composed image on and off the field.
“We had lost to Bangladesh in the U-19 Asia Cup. When we faced them again in the World Cup, Rahul Dravid told us that if they abuse, you also give it back. Nobody expected him to say something like this. We are all very pumped up for that match,” Abhishek Sharma said on former Under-19 teammate Manjot Kalra’s YouTube channel.
India went on to secure a commanding victory in that match, completely dominating Bangladesh. They bundled out Bangladesh for a mere 134 runs, sealing a resounding win by a margin of 131 runs. Abhishek Sharma played a pivotal role in the outcome, showcasing his all-round prowess. He contributed with a crucial half-century with the bat and followed it up by scalping two wickets while conceding just 11 runs in his five-over spell. His performance underscored his capability to influence matches with both bat and ball at the international level.
When Abhishek Sharma smashed a 25-ball century.
Expanding on his recent cricketing exploits, Abhishek Sharma shared insights into his astonishing achievement of scoring a century off just 25 balls in a recent local T20 match held in Gurugram. The left-handed batsman emphasized that his primary aim during the match wasn’t solely focused on the outcome of the game but rather on entertaining the enthusiastic crowd that had gathered to witness the spectacle.
“A lot of people had gathered there once they got to know that we were playing. It was a weekend, so there was a big crowd. They had given us a target of 260.
“I told my friend that people have gathered, and it doesn’t matter if we win or not, but they should get entertainment. I did not open in that match because I hadn’t even carried my kit bag. So, I called for my kit bag and then went to bat at No. 3 or No. 4,” said Sharma.
Facing a daunting target of 250 runs, Abhishek Sharma’s team, Punters, found themselves in a precarious position at 26 for 2 after 4 overs when he walked out to bat. What followed was a spectacular display of batting prowess as the talented opener dismantled the opposition bowlers with relentless aggression. Sharma unleashed a barrage of 14 sixes and 4 fours en route to a blistering century off a mere 25 balls. His scintillating innings turned the tide decisively in Punters’ favor, culminating in them achieving the target with 11 balls to spare in a remarkable comeback victory.
