Played with Shubman Gill’s bat, do it whenever I play a pressure game: Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma has revealed that he scored his maiden international hundred on Sunday, July 7, in Harare with skipper Shubman Gill's bat. The left-hander added that he has been doing the same in pressure games right from the U-12 days.
Abhishek and Gill go back a long way. They have played a lot together since their U-12 days. Gill was named the captain of the Indian team for the ongoing five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe, while Abhishek made his debut in the first T20I.
The left-hander was dismissed for a duck in his first international knock but more than made up for it with a superb 46-ball ton in the second T20I on Sunday. At the post-match press conference after the Men in Blue's thumping 100-run win, Abhishek opened up on the special Gill connection to his memorable knock.
“It has been quite beautiful, starting as kids of 11-12 years. Yeah, we are playing together from Under-12. When I was selected for the country, the first call I received was from Shubman. Today, I played with his bat, so special thanks to the bat. It happened from the under-12 days, as whenever I play a pressure game I ask him for a bat," the 23-year-old was quoted as saying by PTI.
“It had happened in the IPL as well. Today was no exception as it went well as it usually happens,” the aggressive southpaw went on to add.
The SunRisers Hyderabad opener also went on to thank former India batter Yuvraj Singh and his own father for backing his aggressive style of play.
“Yuvi paaji has made a big contribution. I don’t consider myself as sixer-king or something like that. Special thanks to my dad for allowing me to play lofted shots.
"Generally, coaches don’t allow a young batter to hit lofted shots. But my dad always said if you wanted to play a lofted shot, then it should go out of the ground. So, I wanted to follow that,” Abhishek went on to explain.
The left-hander batter was handed an India call-up following a superb display for SRH in IPL 2024. In 16 matches, the youngster clobbered 484 runs at a strike rate of 204.22, with three half-centuries for the eventual runners-up.
"Will go for the shot from the first ball if it’s there in my slot" - Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek's scintillating ton on Sunday was in complete contrast to his knock in the first T20I.
He was dismissed for a four-ball duck, trying to take on Brian Bennett. Reflecting on the two diverse performances, the batter asserted that he would keep playing his natural game from the word go. He also said that he wasn't under any pressure despite failing on his international debut.
“I think the IPL plays a big role in this (handling pressure). We did not feel much pressure when we came here to represent the country as debutants. Unfortunately, we didn't start well in the first match. But my mindset and approach were pretty much similar – to show the right intent,” the left-hander said.
“This is my game, and I will go for the shot from the first ball if it’s there in my slot. If it’s my day, then it works out, and if it does not, then I don’t mind. I practice a lot for this mindset,” Abhishek concluded in the aforementioned post-match press conference.
The Indian opener struck seven fours and eight sixes in his knock as the Men in Blue put up 234-2, batting first. In their chase, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 134.