On a cool, breezy evening at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Abhishek Sharma delivered a performance for the ages, leaving England’s bowling attack in tatters and etching his name into the record books. His breathtaking 54-ball 135, studded with 13 sixes, powered India to a mammoth 247 for 9, setting the stage for a crushing 150-run victory and sealing a 4-1 series win.
From the very first ball, Abhishek Sharma’s intent was clear. Facing Mark Wood’s fiery 150.1kph delivery, he pulled it over midwicket for a couple, signaling his aggressive approach. What followed was a masterclass in clean hitting, as he dismantled England’s pace-heavy attack with a combination of power and precision. Whether it was Jofra Archer’s 147.2kph rockets or Adil Rashid’s spin, Abhishek Sharma treated every bowler with disdain, dispatching them to all parts of the ground.
His innings was a blend of audacity and elegance. He skipped down the track to Archer, making room to thrash a length delivery over extra cover, and followed it up with back-to-back sixes in the same over. Against Rashid, he danced down the pitch twice in succession, tonking the ball straight over the sight screen. “I don’t remember half of them,” Abhishek Sharma said later, “but I liked how I used the pace of the bowlers over the covers.”
The Wankhede crowd, known for its passion, was in raptures. Chants of “Aaa-bheee-shake!” echoed around the stadium as spectators rose to their feet, witnessing one of the most destructive T20 innings ever played. Even Gautam Gambhir, usually reserved, couldn’t hide his delight, calling it the best T20 innings he had ever seen. “The quality of attack in front of him, with Archer and Wood bowling at 150kph consistently, and a young boy taking them on from ball one—it’s probably the best I’ve seen,” Gambhir remarked.
Abhishek Sharma’s Record Breaking Innings
Abhishek Sharma’s century came off just 37 balls, making it the second-fastest by an Indian in T20Is and the second-fastest in a match between Full Member nations. By the time he was dismissed, India had already crossed 200, and the match was effectively out of England’s reach. His 135 was 38 runs more than England’s entire team could muster, as they collapsed to 97 all out in 10.3 overs.
England’s response was led by Phil Salt, who smashed a 21-ball fifty, but it was a lone hand in an otherwise dismal batting display. Abhishek even chipped in with the ball, taking two wickets in his only over, including the dismissals of Brydon Carse and Jamie Overton. It was a complete performance from the young all-rounder, who had earlier showcased his fielding skills with a sharp catch to dismiss Ben Duckett off Mohammed Shami’s bowling.
England captain Jos Buttler was full of praise for Abhishek, calling his innings “as clean a ball-striking as I’ve seen.” He acknowledged the difficulty of stopping a player in such form, especially when they get on a roll. “Looking back at the last IPL, him and Travis Head were the same at the top of the order for Sunrisers, and he has brought that into India. He played a brilliant innings,” Buttler said.
The match also saw Shivam Dube make a strong return after his concussion scare in the previous game. He contributed with both bat and ball, scoring a quickfire 30 off 13 deliveries and taking two crucial wickets, including that of Salt.
For England, Brydon Carse was a rare bright spot, bowling with discipline and picking up three wickets despite the carnage around him. However, the rest of the attack struggled to contain Abhishek, who capitalized on every error in line and length.
As the dust settled on a historic night, the Wankhede crowd lingered, savoring the memories of Abhishek’s heroics. Some compared his innings to Shane Watson’s 117* and Sanath Jayasuriya’s 114* at the same venue, but many felt Abhishek’s knock was even more destructive.
On a night when records tumbled and England were left shell-shocked, Abhishek Sharma announced himself as a force to be reckoned with. His 54-ball 135 was not just a display of power-hitting but a statement of intent—a reminder that when talent meets opportunity, magic happens.
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