Sports
Gautam Gambhir Applauds Abhishek Sharma’s Record-Breaking Century Against England
In a commanding display of power-hitting, Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 135 off just 54 balls propelled India to a resounding 150-run victory over England in the fifth and final T20 International at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. With this innings, apart from winning India series 4-1 it has also received a big appreciation from head coach Gautam Gambhir, who has praised it as one of the best T20 centuries he has ever saw.
A Record-Breaking Innings
Sharma’s ton was typified by an aggressive strokeplay and exceptional timing which effectively cut down England’s bowling plot. However, when examining Sharma’s performance with bowlers who regularly hit speeds between 140-150 kph, Sharma’s account comes off as particularly dominant and targeted. Gambhir, reminiscing the innings, said, “I never witnessed the better T20 hundred against the bowlers bowling at 140-150 kph regularly“.
Embracing a Fearless Approach
Working with Gambhir’s guidance, the Indian team has adopted a heavy-penalty, high-reward, high-risk approach to T20 cricket game, which is oriented around aggression and selflessness. Such philosophy was reflected in Sharma’s batting and in the team’s performance in the series as a whole. Gambhir emphasized the importance of backing young talents like Sharma, stating, “We are going to do this going forward, playing fearless cricket. We want to keep backing players like Abhishek Sharma.”
Addressing Team Dynamics
The win and Sharma’s impressive performance take place after rumors of discord within the Indian team in light of a discouraging series against Australia. Gambhir refuted these rumours, pointing out that “naturally winning” leads to the best team synergy. He concluded that confidence in the players’ dedication, “When things start your way, and so forth, well, they go smoothly” is also notable. Our players know what it means to represent 140-150 crore Indians. “.
Looking Ahead
Thereafter the five-match One Day International (ODIs) series between India and England is to commence from February 6. Following the ODIs, the team will then enter the Champions Trophy, where they will begin their campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on 20 February. Gambhir has also assured that the team will continue its playing approach of attacking game in these matches and go on to their recent momentum and maintain their winning streak.
