Abhishek Sharma forgets Ruturaj Gaikwad; instead thanks this Indian player after scoring his maiden T20I 100

Abhishek Sharma is the man of the moment for India after scoring his maiden T20I ton in just his second T20I match for India. He broke a plethora of records in the process.

Courtesy of his 47-ball 100 India posted a mammoth 234/2 against Zimbabwe, their highest team score against the side. The bowlers then backed up the batters as they were bowled out for 134. India won the match by 100 runs and the team made a strong statement with the series levelling win. THre more matches remaining.

Abhishek Sharma got to his hundred from his fifty in just 13 deliveries and became the fourth youngest to score a T20I century for India. He hit seven fours and eight sixes in his knock maintaining a strike rate of over 200. Incidentally, he was dismissed for a duck in his T20I debut on Saturday and scored his maiden T20I ton within 24 hours.

Speaking about his performance, Abhishek Sharma said "I think it was a pretty good performance by me, the defeat we had yesterday, it wasn't easy for us. I felt today it was my day and I made it count. I feel T20 is about momentum and I took it to the end" said Sharma.

Also Read: Watch: 6,6,6: Abhishek Sharma completes maiden T20I century in stunning fashion, receives standing ovation from Shubman Gill & Co.

Abhishek Sharma Thanks Shubman Gill's Support

He then had a special mention to skipper Shubman Gill and the coaches of the Indian team especially head coach VVS Laxman.

"Special mention to the coaches, captains, and the team management to keep confidence. I always feel that as a youngster if it's your day, you have to express yourself" said Abhishek further in his post-match speech.

The southpaw also spoke about his partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad who scored 77 off 47 balls himself. The duo added a 137-run stand after Gill's early dismissal. In that partnership, Sharma got a life when he was 27.

"We were talking after every over and he (Ruturaj) said to me that you should take it on. I always believe in my ability, if it's in my arc and even if it's the first ball, I will go after it" concluded Abhishek Sharma.

After Sharma's knock, Rinku Singh played a blazing innings of 48 off 22 balls and played his part in taking the team score to 234. He hit two fours and five sixes in his knock and batted with a strike rate of 218.

The bowlers then backed the performance of the batters dismissing the opposition cheaply. Mukesh Kumar and Avesh Khan picked up three wickets each while Ravi Bishnoi picked two and Washington Sundar one.

After back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday, the two teams will now enjoy a two-day break before meeting for the third T20I on Wednesday. It will be interesting to see whether Zimbabwe will be able to challenge this Indian side after Sunday's win.

The pitch interestingly behaved very differently on Saturday and Sunday. Both the games were played on the same pitch. In the first game, India could not chase 116 to win and in the second they piled up 234.

Also Read: Watch: Mukesh Kumar cleans up Innocent Kaia with a perfect inswinger in 2nd T20I