Abhishek emulates ‘guru’ Yuvraj Singh, hits India’s 2nd fastest fifty vs England-OxBig News Network

Abhishek Sharma put in a sensational batting display against England in the first T20I of the five-match series. Sharma, whose place in the Indian lineup was under threat due to a string of mediocre scores in the T20I format, played a riveting 79-run innings at Eden Gardens.

Abhishek hit his fifty in just 20 balls, the second-fastest by any Indian batter against England. Abhishek is only behind his mentor Yuvraj Singh, who had hit a fifty in just 12 balls in the 2007 T20 World Cup. In that match, Yuvraj had bludgeoned six sixes against Stuart Broad, helping him score the fastest fifty in the T20I format — a record that stood for a very long time.

Coming into the game, Abhishek knew that he simply had not done enough after starting his career with a century against Zimbabwe. After his hundred in the second T20I match of his career, Abhishek had failed to reach fifty in his next seven innings.

India vs England, 1st T20I Highlights

On Wednesday, Abhishek sat back at the start of his innings, letting Sanju Samson take charge. After Samson was dismissed in the fifth over, Abhishek came into his element, hitting sixes at will. Abhishek hit eight sixes on the day, finishing with 79 runs off just 34 balls. The innings helped India chase down a target of 133 runs in just 12.5 overs.

Abhishek now has 335 runs from 13 T20Is at an average of 27.91, with a strike rate of 183.06. Abhishek will take a lot of confidence from this game, given his method paid off against England. The innings perhaps ensures Abhishek’s place in the lineup for at least the next few games, but he will need to be wary of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is currently sitting on the bench, waiting to pounce on any opportunity that comes his way.