New Delhi : Abhishek Sharma revealed the advice he received from mentor Yuvraj Singh after the second T20I against Afghanistan. The message came before Abhishek produced a record-breaking century in the series finale, showing that even his most destructive instincts sometimes come with a reminder to keep things simple.
India completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep with a 127-run win in New Delhi, with Abhishek smashing 108 off just 34 balls. Speaking to the broadcasters after his match-winning performance, the opener opened up on the conversation with Yuvraj and the lesson behind it.
“And in the last match, I only got a text from him that I shouldn’t be forcing all the balls. Specifically in these conditions, if I just take one or two singles in between, it’s not in my you know, the slot. I can take a single as well,” Abhishek said.
“But obviously, sir always wants me to play long, and I always have it in my mind that if I give the team such a start, obviously, when we are on the winning side, that is always in my mind,” he added.
Yuvraj’s advice came after Abhishek had already made an explosive start to the series, scoring 82 off 32 balls in the opening T20I and following it with 39 in the second. He then produced the biggest statement of the series in the finale, reaching his hundred in only 30 balls before finishing with 108 off 34.
Abhishek entered the Afghanistan series with some pressure after going seven innings without a fifty, including four single-digit scores. He was also competing with Sanju Samson and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a place at the top of India’s T20I order.
The response could hardly have been louder. His 229 runs across three matches made him the leading run-scorer of the series, while his 30-ball hundred broke Rohit Sharma’s record for the fastest T20I century by an Indian. It was also his third T20I hundred and his second century in fewer than 40 balls.
The knock in Delhi was particularly ruthless, with Abhishek hitting nine fours and 11 sixes. He attacked Afghanistan from the opening over, took down their pace options and was even prepared to take on Rashid Khan in the powerplay before reaching his hundred against Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
There is an interesting balance emerging in Abhishek’s batting. His natural game is built around taking the attack apart, but Yuvraj’s message was about recognising when a single can be just as valuable as another big shot.
Abhishek has also made progress against spin, an area opposition teams had targeted earlier in the year. His willingness to attack Rashid and other Afghan spinners showed the confidence he has developed in expanding his range.
With India heading to the Asian Games next, Abhishek enters the tournament with 229 runs from his last three T20Is and plenty of momentum. For now, though, it seems the message from Yuvraj has landed too: not every ball needs to disappear into the stands.
