Abhishek Sharma calls 135-run knock 'special' in 5th T20I victory over England

Indian cricketer Abhishek Sharma reflected on his sensational 135-run innings against England in the fifth T20I, describing it as "special" since it was for the country.

His outstanding all-round performance played a crucial role in India's historic victory over England in the series finale at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Sunday. With this win, India secured the five-match series 4-1, having already claimed the series earlier.

Abhishek's breathtaking 135-run knock at the iconic Wankhede Stadium earned him a place in the record books. During the match, he struck 7 fours and 13 sixes at an extraordinary strike rate of 250.00. His innings now stands as the highest T20I score by an Indian, surpassing Shubman Gill's unbeaten 126 against New Zealand.

At the post-match presentation, Abhishek Sharma shared insights into his approach, mentioning that he aimed to attack from the very first ball. When asked about his most cherished shots in the match, he particularly highlighted those against Adil Rashid.

"It's a special one, coming for the country, always a great feeling. When I see it's my day, I always try to go from the first ball. And the way the coach and the captain have treated me from the first day. They've always wanted this intent, they've always backed me. When the opponents are bowling 140, 150-plus, you have to be ready a little earlier. Just react to the ball and play my shots. When you're hitting a world-class bowler over the covers [off Archer], it's always great, but I liked the shots against Adil Rashid as well. Probably he [mentor Yuvraj Singh] should be happy today. He's always wanted me to bat into the 15th, 20th over, and I've tried to implement that," he said.

Recapping the match, England won the toss and opted to bowl first. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 135 off 54 balls powered India to a formidable total of 247/9. He was the standout performer with the bat for the Men in Blue.

On the bowling front for England, Brydon Carse led with a three-wicket haul, while Mark Wood chipped in with two wickets.

During England’s chase, Philip Salt (55 runs from 23 balls, 7 fours, and 3 sixes) was the only batter to offer resistance. The rest of the English lineup struggled against India's dominant bowling attack. England was eventually bundled out for 97 runs in just 11 overs.

India's bowlers were instrumental in sealing the victory, with Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Dube, and Varun Chakravarthy each claiming three wickets.

Abhishek was named 'Player of the Match' for his extraordinary innings, while Varun Chakravarthy earned the 'Player of the Series' award for his consistent performances throughout the series.


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