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In the wake of a shocking defeat in the opener of the Zimbabwe tour, the expectations from Team India were on a higher end. The Indian team making a comeback in the 5-match T20I series from 1-0, drew the sheet to level at 1-1. Abhishek Sharma‘s explosive 100 off just 47 balls powered India to a commanding 234/4 in the second T20I, setting up a 100-run victory over the hosts.
Abhishek Sharma’s magic bat
In a surprising revelation, Indian batter Abhishek disclosed that he used his captain Shubman Gill‘s bat to score his maiden T20I century against Zimbabwe on July 7th.
“I played with Shubman’s bat today; I did it earlier also. Whenever I need runs, I ask for his bat,” Abhishek said in the post-match press conference. Since their Punjab domestic cricket days, the duo have been teammates and share a close bond. Abhishek revealed that he often turns to Gill’s bat when facing high-pressure situations.
Abhishek said that this was a practice which he used to do since his under-12 days. “It happened from the under-12 days, as whenever I play a pressure game, I ask him [Gill] for his bat,” Abhishek explained.
Match details
Abhishek’s maiden T20I century came just a day after he had failed to open his account in the series opener. However, the 22-year-old bounced back in style, combining with Ruturaj Gaikwad for a 137-run partnership that laid the foundation for India’s massive total. Gaikwad’s unbeaten 77 off 46 balls and a late onslaught by Rinku Singh (48 off 22) further propelled India to 234/4, a total that proved too steep for Zimbabwe to chase.
The Indian bowlers then delivered an impressive performance, with Avesh Khan (3-15), Ravi Bishnoi (2-11), and Mukesh Kumar (3-37) sharing 8 wickets between them to dismiss Zimbabwe for 134 and secure a comprehensive victory.
Also READ: Abhishek Sharma’s sister posts heartwarming video of parents erupting in joy over his maiden T20I ton
Captain Shubman Gill’s words and friendship
Shubman, who was dismissed early in the inning, expressed his relief at the team’s comeback win after the series-opening defeat. “It’s great to be back on a winning note,” Gill said. The revelation about Abhishek’s use of Gill’s bat has added an interesting subplot to India’s dominant performance in the second T20I.
The camaraderie between the two young talents and Abhishek’s willingness to seek out his captain’s equipment for crucial matches highlight the strong bond within the Indian team. As the series progresses, fans will be keen to see if Abhishek can continue his impressive form and whether he will once again turn to Shubman’s bat for inspiration.
