Abhishek Sharma credits Shubman Gill's bat for his maiden T20I hundred, reveals more secrets

Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill have been playing together since their U14 days.

Indian opener Abhishek Sharma had a stunning outing with the bat against Zimbabwe as he hammered his maiden T20I century in the second match of the ongoing five-match T20I series at the Harare Sports Club in Harare on July 7.

In the first match of the ongoing T20I series against Zimbabwe, the left-handed batter Abhishek made his debut and registered a duck at the very same venue in Harare on July 6.

However, Abhishek bounced back nicely in the very next match with his maiden T20I. He scored 100 runs off 47 deliveries, including seven fours and eight sixes at a strike rate above 200. The youngster also broke Deepak Hooda’s previous record of taking least innings by an Indian batter to hit a hundred in T20Is. Hooda scored a hundred in his third T20I innings, while Abhishek’s ton came in his second.

The left-handed batter also became the fourth youngest Indian batter to smash a T20I century. Abhishek’s fantastic century helped India post a massive total of 234/2 in 20 overs. In reply, the hosts were bundled out for just 134 runs and lost the match by 100 runs. The Shubman Gill-led India leveled the five-match T20I series 1-1.

In the Indian Premier League 2024, the 23-year-old Abhishek amassed 484 runs in 16 matches while opening for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Abhishek hammered three half centuries with an astounding strike rate of 204.22. He played a huge role with his overseas opener Travis Head, giving quick starts to the team.

Smashed my maiden T20I century with Shubman Gill’s bat: Abhishek Sharma

Interestingly, both Shubman Gill and Abhishek are childhood friends. They both also represented the Indian cricket team in the U-19 World Cup 2018, where they won the championship.

After scoring his maiden T20I century against Zimbabwe on July 7, Abhishek revealed that his fellow opener Shubman gave him the bat.

“Today I played with Shubman Gill’s bat. So a special thanks to the bat as well. And this happens, I think, from the under-12 days. Whenever I think like, this is a pressure game or this is, you know, a match where I should perform, I usually take his bat,” Abhishek said while talking with the BCCI in a video.“Even in the IPL also, I usually ask for one bat. And today he gave me his bat. So I think it went really well,” Abhishek revealed.

Abhishek Sharma credits his dad for six hitting ability

The left-handed batter gave a special mention to his dad for improving his six-hitting ability. Abhishek revealed that his dad always mentioned that if he wants to hit a lofted shot, then it should go over the boundary ropes.

“Special mention to my dad, who in my childhood didn’t allow too much interference from coaches,” the left-handed opener said.

“He asked me to hit the big aerial shots. But he always told me this thing that if you want to play a lofted shot, it should go out of the boundaries,” the 23-year-old Abhishek concluded.

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