Abhishek Sharma on scoring India's third-fastest T20I hundred: 'Felt today was my day and I made it count'

Abhishek Sharma, who guided India to a series-levelling win over Zimbabwe in the second T20I on Sunday at Harare with his maiden ton, thanked the team management for showing confidence in him despite the opener getting out for a duck on his debut. Abhishek was dismissed without scoring a run in the first T20I on Saturday as Zimbabwe won the match by 13 runs.

On Sunday, Abhishek Sharma slammed his first international hundred , scoring 100 runs in just 46 balls as India bounced back in the series with a 100-run victory . His innings comprised 47 balls overall as Abhishek Sharma got out on the next ball after getting to his century.

This was India’s joint-third fastest hundred in men’s T20Is. KL Rahul had also completed a century in just 46 balls against West Indies in 2016. The record for the fastest T20I century for India belongs to Rohit Sharma who completed his ton in just 35 balls against Sri Lanka in 2017. Suryakumar Yadav took 45 balls to get to a hundred in 2023, also against Sri Lanka.

“I think it was a pretty good performance by me, the defeat we had yesterday, it wasn’t easy for us. I felt today was my day and I made it count. I feel T20 is about momentum and I took it to the end. Special mention to the coaches, captains and the team management to keep confidence in me,” the Player of the Match Abhishek Sharma said after India’s win.

“I always feel that as a youngster if it’s your day, you have to express yourself. We were talking after every over and he (Ruturaj) said to me that you should take it on. I always believe in my ability, if it’s in my arc and even if it’s the first ball, I will go after it.”

Captain Shubman Gill praised Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad for putting up 137 for the second wicket and bailing India out after he was dismissed for two runs in the second over. Gaikwad scored 77 not out as India posted 234/2 before dismissing Zimbabwe for 134.

“Very happy, great to be back on the winning note. With the way Abhishek and Rutu batted, it was not easy especially in the powerplay, with the ball moving around but Abhi and Rutu built the innings brilliantly,” he said.

“Yesterday, it was more about not being able to handle the pressure, it’s a young side and many of them are new to international exposure. It was actually good to have pressure in the first game and we knew what to expect coming into this game.

“We have got three matches to go and we are looking forward to them. It’s always good to have more options rather than not having options.”

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza said India showed their class with a comprehensive win.

“The world champions will eventually play like world champions. Dropping catches today certainly hurt us today. I expected 200 on this wicket today but they got 30 runs more. Coming into the chase, I thought it would be a close game but it wasn’t to be, the top-order didn’t fire,” he said.