Nagpur buzzed with excitement as Abhishek Sharma unleashed a breathtaking onslaught, smashing 84 runs off just 35 balls with 8 sixes and 5 fours. His explosive innings propelled India to a commanding 48-run victory over New Zealand, earning him the Player of the Match honors in a thrilling T20 encounter.
Post-match, the young batter opened up about his mindset. ‘We’ve had a plan from day one, and we’re sticking to it,’ he said. ‘To hit every ball or maintain a 200 strike rate, you need intent. Every team plans against me, so it’s about my preparation. I trust my instincts.’
Abhishek emphasized his adaptive approach. ‘My role isn’t overly risky, but it’s not my comfort zone either. I’ve practiced big shots in the first six overs extensively. I don’t do range-hitting; I watch the ball and adjust to conditions. That’s what my net sessions are for—planning based on video analysis of my batting to anticipate bowlers’ tactics.’
Meanwhile, Rinku Singh starred with an unbeaten 44 off 20 balls, featuring 3 sixes and 4 fours. Reflecting on his knock, Rinku shared, ‘There was pressure as I’ve been in and out of the team. The plan was to take singles and then go big, staying till the end. Gautam Gambhir sir told me to keep the intent. We want to carry this confidence into the World Cup and win it.’
Rinku also highlighted his crucial 29-run partnership with Arshdeep Singh off 13 balls. ‘When balls were in our arc, we hit boundaries. I just told him to stay calm and give me strike via singles.’
India’s dominant performance signals strong momentum heading into bigger battles, with these young guns leading the charge.