"If they abuse, you also give it back" - Abhishek Sharma recalls Rahul Dravid's message ahead of U-19 World Cup match against Bangladesh
Abhishek Sharma recently revealed the message head coach Rahul Dravid gave to the India team ahead of their under-19 World Cup quarter-final against Bangladesh in 2018. He stated while Dravid was known to have a calm demeanor, he told the Indian players to go all out in the knockout match.
The 23-year-old mentioned that India had lost to Bangladesh in the U19 Asia Cup prior to the World Cup. He disclosed that Dravid told the team to not back down if the Bangladeshi players abused them in the quarter-final.
Speaking on the YouTube channel Second innings with Manjot Kalra, Abhishek said:
"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."
India completed a comprehensive 131-run victory over Bangladesh in the 2018 U19 World Cup quarter-final, successfully defending a 265-run total. Abhishek Sharma notched up a fine half-century in the match, scoring 50 runs off 49 balls, and also claimed two wickets.
The Prithvi Shaw-led India U19 team trumped Pakistan and Australia in the semi-final and final, respectively, to win the coveted trophy.
"I hadn't even carried my kit bag" - Abhishek Sharma on his 25-ball century in a club match in Gurugram
A video of Abhishek Sharma taking the bowlers to the cleaners in a club match in Gurugram went viral on social media last month. The southpaw hit a stunning 25-ball century in the game.
Abhishek struck 14 sixes during his stay at the crease, finishing with 103 runs off just 26 balls. Speaking about the game, he stated that he hadn't even carried his kit bag, and asked someone to bring it after the opposition team gave them an imposing 250-run target in the 20-over match.
The swashbuckling batter said:
"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."
Abhishek Sharma's ton helped his team chase down the target with 11 balls to spare and four wickets in hand.