Synopsis
Rajkumar Sharma beams with pride for his son Abhishek Sharma's record-breaking performance at Wankhede Stadium, where he led India to a historic T20 victory. Watching from home, Rajkumar thanked fans for their support in this extraordinary achievement.Key Takeaways
- Rajkumar Sharma expresses pride for his son Abhishek's record performance.
- Abhishek scored 135 runs, achieving the highest individual score for India in men's T20Is.
- His innings included 13 sixes, the most by an Indian in a single T20I innings.
- India secured a 150-run victory, marking their second-largest win by runs in T20Is.
- Abhishek's 37-ball century is the eighth-fastest in men's T20 history.
New Delhi, Feb 3 (NationPress) Proud father and coach Rajkumar Sharma shared his joy for son Abhishek Sharma, who shattered numerous records during India's second-largest victory margin in men's T20 internationals. He mentioned that he watched his son's remarkable performance on television while his wife and daughter were present at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
During the match at Wankhede Stadium, Abhishek scored an impressive 135 runs off just 54 balls, marking the highest individual score for India in men's T20Is, surpassing Shubman Gill's 126* against New Zealand earlier in 2023. This 24-year-old's incredible innings is also the second-highest score by any player against England, after Aaron Finch's 156 in 2013.
Rajkumar, a former Ranji Trophy player, expressed, "My daughter and wife were there (in Mumbai) to witness Abhishek playing live. I viewed it on television. It was an incredibly proud moment for us. I cannot fully express my joy, and I appreciate everyone who supported him," while speaking to IANS.
Abhishek displayed outstanding stroke play, hitting seven fours and 13 sixes at a strike rate of 228.57, contributing to India's total of 247/9, which is the second-highest score by any team against England in men's T20Is, leading to a commanding 150-run victory for India in the fifth match.
Furthermore, the 13 sixes hit by Abhishek during his innings are the most recorded for India in a single innings in men's T20 internationals. Previously, Rohit Sharma hit 10 against Sri Lanka in 2017, while both Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma matched that against South Africa in 2024.
Although the youngstar set numerous records, he narrowly missed surpassing Rohit Sharma's record for the fastest century by an Indian in T20Is. Abhishek reached his hundred in 37 balls, while Rohit achieved it in 35 balls during a match against Sri Lanka in Indore back in 2017.
All in all, Abhishek's 37-ball century ranks as the eighth-fastest in men's T20Is.
