Punjab opener Abhishek Sharma created new history after he recorded the joint second-fastest T20 century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 Group A match against Meghalaya. 

After Meghalaya were restricted to 142/7 in 20 overs, Punjab opener and captain Abhishek Sharma thrashed the opposition bowlers to chase the target in 9.3 overs while his team lost three wickets. 

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Captain Abhishek Sharma took two wickets

While Meghalaya chose to bat first, captain Abhishek Sharma took the first two wickets as both the openers were the victims (Arien Sangma 13 and Ibitlang Thabah 17). Abhishek finished with the bowling figures of 4-0-24-2, where Arpit Bhatewara (31), Yogesh Tiwari (20), and Larry Sangma (21) reached the 20-run marks. Apart from the skipper Abhishek, Ramandeep Singh also bagged two wickets (2/18).

Abhishek Sharma completed his fourth SMAT century in 28 balls

In reply, captain Abhishek completely dominated with his bat. He completed his fifth T20 century and fourth SMAT hundred in just 28 balls. He finished the match with 106 not out off 29 balls with the help of eight fours and 11 sixes. 

Here are some key stats of the match:

• With his 28-ball T20 hundred, Abhishek recorded the joint second-fastest T20 century. In the ongoing SMAT season, Gujarat batter Urvil Patel also recorded a 28-ball century against Tripura. The fastest T20 century record is a 27-ball hundred by Sahil Chauhan for Estonia against Cyprus last June. 
• It was the fourth SMAT century for Abhishek, which is a new record for the most centuries in SMAT history.  
• Including his T20I century, Abhishek has recorded five centuries in his T20 career. He became the eighth Indian cricketer to hit at least five T20 centuries. 
• While Punjab won the match by seven wickets with 63 balls remaining, it was the second fastest 130+ runs chase in the T20 cricket history. The record is Saudi Arabia successfully chasing a 136-run target against Kuwait with 65 balls remaining. 

Abhishek Sharma recently shared what head coach Rahul Dravid told the India team before their U-19 World Cup quarter final against Bangladesh in 2018. Known for his calm demeanor, Dravid surprised everyone by telling the players to go all out in the knockout match.

The 23 year old mentioned that India had previously lost to Bangladesh in the U-19 Asia Cup before the World Cup. Dravid advised the team not to back down if the Bangladeshi players abused them in the quarter final.

Speaking on the YouTube channel Second Innings with Manjot Kalra, Abhishek said:

“We had lost to Bangladesh in the U-19 Asia Cup. When we faced them again in the World Cup, Rahul Dravid told us that if they abuse, you also give it back. Nobody expected him to say something like this. We were all very pumped up for that match.”

India won the 2018 U-19 World Cup quarter final against Bangladesh by 131 runs, successfully defending a 265 run total. Abhishek Sharma scored 50 runs off 49 balls and took two wickets in the match.

The Prithvi Shaw led India U-19 team went on to defeat Pakistan in the semi final and Australia in the final to win the trophy.

Abhishek Sharma’s Stunning Century

Last month, a video of Abhishek Sharma hitting a 25 ball century in a club match in Gurugram went viral. The left handed batter smashed 14 sixes, scoring 103 runs off just 26 balls.

Speaking about the game, he said that he hadn’t brought his kit bag and had to ask someone to bring it after the opposing team set a daunting 250 run target in a 20 over match.

“A lot of people had gathered there once they got to know that we were playing. It was a weekend, so there was a big crowd. They had given us a target of 260. I told my friend that people have gathered, and it doesn’t matter if we win or not, but they should get entertainment. I did not open in that match because I hadn’t even carried my kit bag. So, I called for my kit bag and then went to bat at No. 3 or No. 4.”

Abhishek Sharma’s century helped his team chase down the target with 11 balls to spare and four wickets in hand.

Yashasvi Jaiswal scored an impressive 93 not out to help India secure a decisive lead in the series. The win in the 4th T20I also gave Shubman Gill his first T20I series victory as India’s captain.

Shubman Gill’s team defeated Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in the fourth T20I. India chased down the target of 153 runs in just 15.2 overs, Jaiswal’s outstanding 93 run performance. After returning from the T20 World Cup without playing a single game, Jaiswal showed why he is seen as the future of India in the T20I format.

This victory marked Shubman Gill’s first series win as captain, providing much needed relief after being left out of the T20 World Cup 2024 and losing the first match of the series. Gill contributed significantly alongside Jaiswal, scoring his second half century of the tour.

Jaiswal’s impact on the series

Jaiswal’s innings (93* off 53) set the tone for India’s game against Zimbabwe. Before this match, Indian batters struggled in the early overs, but Jaiswal changed that on Saturday, starting strong and hitting 13 fours and 2 sixes. This allowed Gill (58* off 39) to play a steady innings, supporting Jaiswal effectively.

Jaiswal’s performance was crucial for him personally, as he is competing with Abhishek Sharma, who scored a century in the 2nd T20I.

Gill and Jaiswal’s partnership

The openers quickly chased down the target on a good batting pitch in Harare. For the first time in the series, Indian batters dominated the powerplay against the new ball, while Zimbabwe must be disappointed for not capitalizing on their 63 run opening stand.

Zimbabwe lost momentum after their openers Wessly Madhevere and Tadiwanashe Marumani fell. Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar bowled well, supported by part timer Abhishek Sharma, who bowled 3 overs, taking 1 wicket for just 20 runs.

Besides Ravi Bishnoi, all five bowlers took wickets, with Tushar Deshpande and Abhishek Sharma claiming their first international wickets.

This series has seen India getting stronger, with today’s match highlighting their dominance in all three aspects of the game. India will play one more T20I, tomorrow at the same venue.

A duck on debut, followed by a stunning 46-ball century in the second match—fortunes can turn quickly in T20 cricket, especially for players who adopt a ‘high risk, high reward’ approach. Abhishek Sharma embodies this style of play. Less than 24 hours ago, the left-hander faced disappointment on his international debut, getting out for a duck in the first T20I against Zimbabwe. As the first batter dismissed in a run chase of 116, India ultimately fell short by 13 runs. On his fourth ball, Abhishek miscued a pull shot straight to the backward square-leg fielder, sparking criticism that Indian batters were playing too aggressively too early in a manageable chase.

However, for Abhishek, this aggressive approach is his signature style, the very tactic that earned him recognition in the 2024 IPL season. Despite the early setback, he remained unfazed. His explosive century in the second match showcased his fearless batting and ability to bounce back. This performance not only redeemed his debut duck but also demonstrated his potential to turn games around with his aggressive play, reaffirming his position as a key player for India in T20 cricket.

See Also: IND vs ZIM: Match Analysis: What led to the collapse of India’s young guns on Harare’s Spin-friendly track?

In-depth Evaluation of Abhishek Sharma’s Ton via True Sigma Value

The 23-year-old Abhishek Sharma backed his innate aggressive approach, scoring a sensational hundred in just 46 balls, dramatically turning his fortunes around. After a four-ball duck in his debut match the previous day, he made a fitting statement by hitting a six off the first ball he faced, marking his first runs in international cricket. Abhishek reached his half-century in the 11th over with a six and continued his rampage, bringing up his century only three overs later with three consecutive sixes.

During his innings, Abhishek had a brief period of consolidation. Between the fourth and eighth overs, he managed just 10 runs off 15 balls and survived a scare when he was dropped by Wellington Masakadza in the eighth over while on 27. This dropped catch proved costly for Zimbabwe as Abhishek seized the opportunity and accelerated, scoring an explosive 72 runs off his next 22 balls.

Abhishek shifted gears particularly against Sikandar Raza, the Player of the Match from the previous game with figures of 3/25, hitting him for a four and a six. In the 11th over, he unleashed his fury on medium pacer Dion Myers, smashing three fours and two sixes. The Punjab-born cricketer’s blitz from 50 to 100 came in just 13 balls, making it the joint second-fastest century in T20I history.

True Sigma Value (tSV) is a metric that quantifies a player’s performance in terms of runs per ball relative to other players in the same match. For instance, in a recent match between India and Zimbabwe, the average runs per ball for the entire match was +1.4. Abhishek, however, scored at a rate of 2.1 runs per ball. This performance gives Abhishek a tSV of +0.7, highlighting his superior contribution compared to the overall match context.

Evaluating Abhishek Sharma’s century through True Sigma Values reveals a dynamic and adaptive innings. In the first 10 balls, Abhishek scored a brisk 18 runs with an impressive 60% True Shots, setting a strong foundation. However, he faced a challenging phase in the next 10 balls, managing only 6 runs with a lower 30% True Shots, indicating a struggle to find his rhythm.

Abhishek’s performance saw a dramatic turnaround from balls 31 to 40, where he accelerated significantly, amassing 36 runs with a remarkable 80% True Shots, showcasing his ability to dominate the bowlers. In the final 7 balls of his innings, Abhishek maintained his aggressive approach, scoring 23 runs with a 71.4% True Shots rate. This evaluation through True Sigma Values highlights Abhishek’s adaptability and strategic acceleration throughout his innings, culminating in a match-defining century.

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Talented Abhishek Sharma has credited the Indian Premier League (IPL) for ensuring a smooth transition for the young Indian players who recently debuted for India. While playing just his second T20I, Abhishek showed his skill and managed to score a match-winning 46-ball 100. His century ensured the series was level as India beat Zimbabwe in the second T20I.

“I think IPL plays a big role in this because as a youngster, as a debutant, we didn’t feel much pressure when we came to represent the country,” Abhishek Sharma said. “It’s always a great motivation once you are playing for the country. Unfortunately it didn’t go well in yesterday’s game, but my mindset and intent was same. I had a word with the other debutants too, we’ve all played cricket together a long time, since U14 days I’d say. I think it’s all about approach in T20, about intent. If I show intent and if it is my day, it usually goes like this.”

“All this is due to the hard work I’ve done” – Abhishek Sharma

However, Abhishek Sharma, who gave credit to former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh’s contribution, hit eight sixes in his stunning knock as well.

“All this is due to the hard work I’ve done,” he said. “Special thanks to my dad who always encouraged me to play lofted shots even when I was a kid. Usually coaches don’t allow you to play lofted shots much. My dad used to tell me that if you want to play a lofted shot, it should go out of the ground. For me, it’s always been there from my childhood that if I’m confident, I like to express myself.”

He also revealed that he had used Shubman Gill’s bat for the game, something he has done many times in the past as well. Both of them came from the same state and they had grown up playing together since young age as well.

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“The journey has been very beautiful,” Abhishek shared. “When we started playing, we were around 10-11 years and we have been playing since U12 together. The ultimate goal was to represent the country. I have said this before that the first call I got (about selection) was from Shubman, he was very happy.”

“I played with his bat today and it went really well” – Abhishek Sharma on Shubman Gill

“I played with his [Shubman’s] bat today and it went really well, special thanks to him for the bat. This happens from the U12 days, whenever I think it’s a pressure game or it’s a match I should perform, I take his bat. Even in the IPL, I ask for his bat. Even today it went really well,” he again stated.

Abhishek Sharma also admitted that the players were disappointed after losing the first game of the series. However, the first-choice squad had just won the T20 World Cup a few days before that as well.

“Losing a game like that after the country has won a T20 World Cup was disappointing for the players. But still, we were all youngsters and have been playing together and against each other since childhood. So none of us went into our shells after losing, we were instead all together and thinking about the hard work we put in all those years and how this is the ultimate goal for all of us, so we should enjoy and focus on the next thing. Mindset was to forget what has happened and focus on the next match,” Abhishek Sharma concluded.

India bounced back strongly in the series with a resounding 100-run victory over Zimbabwe in Harare. Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad led the charge as India leveled the series on Sunday, July 7th.

In a thrilling comeback, the young Indian team dominated Zimbabwe in the second T20I. Abhishek Sharma played a stellar innings, smashing a sensational century to propel India to a massive total of 234 runs. Zimbabwe struggled right from the start, managing to score only 134 runs in response, thanks to outstanding bowling performances by Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, and Mukesh Kumar.

Zimbabwe’s early charge and subsequent collapse

Zimbabwe began their chase aggressively, with Brian Bennett hitting boundaries early on. However, his departure after a quickfire 26 marked the start of Zimbabwe’s downfall. They lost wickets consistently, finding themselves at 76/7 by the 12th over. Luke Jongwe and Wessley Madhvere tried to revive the innings, but Zimbabwe eventually succumbed, getting all out in the 18.4 overs.

Ravi Bishnoi and Avesh Khan stood out with their superb bowling. Bishnoi conceded just 11 runs in his spell and took crucial wickets, while Avesh Khan troubled the batsmen with his pace and aggression.

Abhishek Sharma’s explosive century

The match belonged to Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who played pivotal roles with their contrasting yet effective batting styles. Abhishek Sharma, after a slow start unleashed his aggression to score a maiden T20I century. He hit 8 sixes and 7 boundaries in his explosive innings, dominating the Zimbabwean bowlers.

Meanwhile, Ruturaj Gaikwad showcased his class with an unbeaten 77 off 47 balls, paying homage to MS Dhoni on his birthday. The duo’s partnership of 137 runs set India on course for their highest-ever T20I total against Zimbabwe.

Rinku Singh also made a significant contribution, smashing 48* off just 22 balls towards the end of the innings, further bolstering India’s formidable total.

With this win India has tied the series 1-1 there are still three matches to go.

Abhishek Sharma, a 23-year-old cricketer smashed 8 sixes to score his first T20I century in just 46 balls. The sunrisers star became the 10th Indian to achieve this milestone in T20 international cricket.

In only his second international match, Abhishek from Punjab reached his century in 46 balls, attacking Zimbabwe’s bowlers in the second T20I of a five-match series in Harare on Saturday, July 7. He hit eight sixes and seven boundaries, making it the third fastest century by an Indian in men’s T20 internationals.

Abhishek was on 28 off 24 balls by the eighth over, stabilizing the innings with Ruturaj Gaikwad after the early loss of captain Shubman Gill. Then he unleashed his power, scoring the next 72 runs in just 22 balls with a flurry of sixes.

Despite a duck in his debut match, Abhishek didn’t shy away from his aggressive style. He scored 28 runs in one over from Dion Myers, reaching his fifty in the 11th over with a massive six. This over included two sixes and three boundaries, shifting the momentum back to India.

Abhishek’s power hitting display stuns opponents

In the 14th over, Abhishek hammered Zimbabwe’s Wellington Masakadza for three consecutive sixes, reaching his century with the third six. He attempted another big shot on the next ball but was caught out.

Abhishek’s hundred was the first T20I century by an Indian against Zimbabwe in men’s cricket, and he became the 10th Indian to score a T20I hundred overall.

He had a stroke of luck when Zimbabwe dropped him on 27, a mistake that proved costly. The drop happened in the 8th over, bowled by Luke Jongwe, and was caught by Masakadza at long-off.

Abhishek received a warm round of applause from his teammates, with head coach VVS Laxman and captain Shubman Gill congratulating him on his spectacular performance.

Shubman Gill, leading a young Indian team without senior players, has announced the opening pair for the first T20I against Zimbabwe. This series marks the beginning of a new era for Indian cricket, kicking off their preparations for the T20 World Cup 2026.

Gill himself will open alongside the in-form Abhishek Sharma in the series opener at Harare Sports Club on Saturday, July 6th.

“I will open with Abhishek Sharma, and Ruturaj Gaikwad will bat at No. 3,” Gill told reporters on the eve of the match.

Abhishek Sharma Prepares for Maiden T20I Cap Alongside Gill

Abhishek, known for his explosive batting in the IPL with 484 runs at a stunning strike rate of 204.22, will earn his first T20I cap. The left hander’s aggressive batting style in the powerplay overs could be crucial in Harare’s slower conditions. His debut is well-deserved, and the young player from Punjab is expected to capture attention with his attacking approach.

In this series against Zimbabwe, India has rested most of their World Cup-winning players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja.

Only five members are Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Yashavi Jaiswal, Khaleel Ahmed, and Sanju Samson included in the squad. However, Dube, Jaiswal, and Samson, who were part of the main World Cup squad, will miss the first two T20Is due to extended celebrations following their victory. Jitesh Sharma, Sai Sudharshan, and Harshit Rana will replace them for these matches.

India’s revised squad for the Zimbabwe tour

Shubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube.

India vs Zimbabwe 2024 schedule

1st T20I on July 6, Saturday
2nd T20I on July 7, Sunday
3rd T20I on July 10, Wednesday
4th T20I on July 13, Saturday
5th T20I on July 14, Sunday

The Indian Premier League, a veritable breeding ground for cricketing talent, has once again brought a group of promising players to the fore. The just-concluded 2024 edition was a platform for these emerging Indian players, who could potentially bring about a sea change in the national cricket team.

Here’s a rundown of the top five Indian players who, based on their IPL performances, could be on their way to their first international call.

1. Nitish Kumar Reddy (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Sunrisers Hyderabad has uncovered yet another cricketing treasure in the form of Nitish Kumar Reddy, a pace-bowling all-rounder. This sought-after combination frequently piques the curiosity of Indian cricket selection. At the age of 21, Reddy has distinguished himself by his ability to flourish in high-pressure circumstances and guide the innings to a successful completion.

The youngster also won this year’s Emerging Player of the Year title, scoring 303 runs in 15 matches at an average of 33.67. He took three wickets with the ball and had the best bowling stats of 2/17. Nitish played a significant part in enabling the team’s third IPL finale match. 

2. Abhishek Sharma (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Having associations since 2019 with the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Abhishek Sharma paid back the trust after a memorable cricketing display as the team’s opener. With his opening partner, Travis Head, Sharma has created havoc with the bat by making a sound and aggressive start towards the team’s high-scoring total, with their highest team total of 287/3 runs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru being one of them.

He has smashed 484 runs in 16 matches, with a strike rate of over 200. As an all-rounder, he also has the potential to turn the ball and scalp some crucial wickets. It would be interesting to see how he performs as an opener when he gets his maiden international call in the future.

Also Read: IPL 2024: Ranking all IPL teams captains

3. Riyan Parag (Rajasthan Royals)

Riyan Parag has been a part of Rajasthan Royals for an extended period, but his performance has gradually declined season by season. With numerous trolls and backlash, Parag gave a befitting reply to such haters with his all-rounding performance in the recent season. He acted as the medium of robust to the team’s middle-order batting and helped in scalping crucial wins for the team.

He emerged as the team’s best run-scorer in IPL 2024, achieving the third-highest total tally with 573 runs at a strike rate of 149.21 throughout 14 innings. With a sophisticated approach and a relaxed attitude, Parag’s proficient tactics have created a lasting impression, which implies that a call-up to the Indian squad may be approaching.

4. Mayank Yadav (Lucknow Super Giants)

Though Mayank Yadav’s IPL career was cut short owing to repeated ailments, the speed phenom made the most of his opportunities while still in the league. Mayank’s blazing speed and pinpoint precision in his maiden match astounded the crowd.

Despite bowling only 12.1 overs in the competition and taking seven wickets with a fantastic economy rate of 6.98, Mayank’s early exit from the IPL 2024 did not herald the end of his career. With his impressive quickness and intriguing talent, he is undoubtedly on selectors’ radar for future possibilities.

5. Shashank Singh (Punjab Kings)

During the 2024 IPL auction, Shashank Singh’s purchase by the Punjab Kings was an atmosphere of confusion and rumours, as the team wanted another player going by the same name. But this purchase turned out to be a masterstroke and made one of the players who might get his India debut call very soon. He became the face of the team’s middle-order lineup.

The batter hit 415 runs in the 14 games he played in the competition this season, with a strike-rate of 161. The effect of his knocks made him a superstar for the Punjab Kings as he came out to bat amid tight moments and won them the game when the team had practically no chance of success.

The IPL 2024 final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai was electrifying. With fans on the edge of their seats, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) set the stage ablaze by reducing Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to a precarious position early in the match.

Toss and Team Strategies

Winning the toss, SRH captain opted to bat first, hoping to put up a challenging total on the board. KKR’s bowlers, spearheaded by the fiery Mitchell Starc, executed their plans perfectly. SRH reeled at 21 for three within the first five overs, thanks to some exceptional bowling.

See Also: T20 World Cup 2024: Virat Kohli likely to miss India’s only warm-up match; Reports

Mitchell Starc’s Magic

The most expensive player of IPL 2024, Mitchell Starc, lived up to his billing by claiming the prized wicket of SRH opener Abhishek Sharma in the first over. Starc’s good length delivery, angling in and pitching on the middle stump, left Sharma stranded without footwork, resulting in an easy dismissal. Sharma, who had a stellar season, could only manage two runs off 5 balls.

Vaibhav Arora Joins the Party

Vaibhav Arora sent Travis Head back to the pavilion for a duck in the next over. The away-swinger found Head’s faint edge, which keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz comfortably caught. With both openers dismissed within the first two overs, SRH’s innings was in tatters.

SRH’s Struggle for Stability

The quick fall of wickets continued to plague SRH. Despite a few boundaries from Rahul Tripathi and Aiden Markram, the team needed help finding stability. Tripathi’s dismissal, courtesy of another brilliant delivery from Starc, left SRH at 23 for three.

Rahul Tripathi’s Short Stay

Trying to guide the ball through the leg side, Tripathi got a thick top edge that Mandeep Singh caught near the square leg. His departure for 9 runs put SRH in a deeper hole.

Aiden Markram’s Resilience

Aiden Markram attempted to anchor the innings with a few crucial boundaries, but the relentless pressure from KKR’s bowlers made it difficult to build a substantial partnership with Nitish Reddy. But Nitish Reddy is caught behind on the last ball of Harshit Rana’s first over, adding Rana to the list of successful KKR bowlers. Once again, an away-swinger does the trick for a KKR pacer. SRH stand at 47/4 after 7 overs.

Reddy c Gurbaz b Rana 13(10)

Lowest Powerplay scores for SRH in IPL 2024
37/2 vs RR Hyderabad
40/3 vs PBKS Mullanpur
40/3 vs KKR Chennai *
45/4 vs KKR Ahmedabad

Mitchell Starc
World Cup 2023
Group stage: 10 wkts in 8 matches
Knockouts: 6 wkts in 2 matches
IPL 2024
Group stage: 12 wkts in 12 matches
Play Offs: 5* wkts in 2 matches