Overview:
He hit seven boundaries and 5 sixes to post the second fastest fifty by an Indian in the slam bang version of the game.
Abhishek Sharma needed just 14 balls to score a fifty in the third T20I between India and New Zealand in Guwahati. Overall, he amassed an unbeaten 68 runs in 20 deliveries as India registered an eight-wicket win while chasing 154. However, he was mocked by legendary Indian all-rounder and his mentor, Yuvraj Singh, despite his sensational effort with the bat.
Yuvraj said that Abhishek was not able to match his Indian record of a 12-ball fifty despite the latter’s impressive form at the moment.
Yuvraj scored a half-century in 12 balls against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup and also smashed six consecutive sixes in an over of Stuart Broad.
“Still can’t get a 50 off 12 balls, can you? Well played – keep going strong,” Yuvraj wrote. Abhishek also opined on his mentor’s record in the shortest format of the game.
“It is almost impossible to break the record, but you never know. Any batsman could do it as the batters have been batting well in the series, and it is going to be fun going forward,” he said.
Abhishek holds the record for the most T20I fifties in 25 balls or less, having recorded the landmark on nine occasions. Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav matched his milestone in the same match.
Abhishek and Suryakumar completed the target in 10 overs, making it the fastest to achieve a target of 150 or more by a full-member nation in a T20I match.
The left-handed batter attacked the bowlers despite losing his opening partner, Sanju Samson, on the first ball of the run chase. He hit seven boundaries and 5 sixes to post the second fastest fifty by an Indian in the slam bang version of the game.