India's next generation of cricketers bounced back from an early setback in the five-match T20 series in Zimbabwe, registering a 100-run win to level the contest in Harare on Sunday.
The second string Indian team were handed a jolt on Saturday as the hosts successfully defended 115, dampening the mood in the Indian camp still basking in the success of the senior team's T20 World Cup title success.
India needed to respond quickly within 24 hours and it was Abhishek Sharma who led the way with a record-breaking century in just his second match.
After getting out for a four-ball duck on debut, Abhishek turned his game around as he smashed eight sixes and seven fours en route to 100 off just 47 balls.
Abhishek's century laid the foundation of a massive total of 234-2, which was well beyond the reach of Zimbabwe, who were bowled out for 134. Ruturaj Gaikwad (77 off 47), Rinku Singh (48 from 22), Avesh Khan (3-15) and Ravi Bishnoi (2-11) all made telling contributions in India's victory.
The star of the day, however, was Abhishek who broke a number of records.
Records tumble in Harare
Abhishek took just 46 balls to reach three figures, despite starting fairly slowly on a tough surface and surviving a dropped chance on 27. It was the joint third fastest T20 century by an Indian batsman behind Rohit Sharma (35 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (45 balls).
Abhishek opened his account, reached his fifty and century by hitting a six. In fact, he reached his century by hitting three consecutive sixes – the first Indian to do so in any format.
Abhishek continued the form he had shown for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League and which had pushed him into the limelight earlier in the year. His breathtaking striking in the IPL had made him an outside chance for a spot in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup, but he missed the cut.
In the IPL, Abhishek formed a lethal opening partnership with Travis Head, taking Hyderabad all the way to the final where they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders.
In the tournament, Abhishek accumulated 484 runs from 16 innings at a strike rate of over 200, smashing 36 fours and 42 sixes. He replicated that form on the international stage as well, hitting more sixes than fours in his maiden T20 ton.
Is Abhishek Sharma the next batting star?
The left-handed batsman is seen as the best ball-striker in Indian cricket. And that takes some doing. Mentored by World Cup winner Yuvraj Singh, Abhishek has transformed into a six-hitting machine after stumbling around as a spin bowling all-rounder.
Now that Rohit and Virat Kohli have both retired from T20 Internationals, two spots have opened up at the top of the order and India's team management will back Abhishek to start the innings with another destructive left-handed opener – Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Abhishek is also a handy left-arm spinner, which is a huge plus as recent Indian white-ball teams had almost no player in the top six who could also bowl. Jaiswal bowls leg spin as well, which should make their spots in the team almost guaranteed going forward.
India are in a transition phase with preparations underway for the 2026 T20 World Cup which will be held in India and Sri Lanka. With a century in his second match – on a difficult pitch and after losing the series opener – Abhishek has provided a glimpse into the future of Indian cricket.
