Yuvraj Singh’s humorous approval of Abhishek Sharma’s gritty knock vs England

Indian cricket legend and 2011 ODI World Cup winner Yuvraj Singh delivered a witty yet heartfelt compliment to his protégé Abhishek Sharma following the latter’s scintillating batting display in India’s first T20I against England in Kolkata on January 22. Known for mentoring Abhishek during his formative years, Yuvraj assessed the young batter’s performance and the team’s overall efforts in the match, which saw India claim a commanding seven-wicket victory to start the five-match series on a high.

Taking to his official X account, Yuvraj lauded Abhishek for his calculated stroke play and made humorous remarks about the 24-year-old hitting boundaries down the ground rather than only relying on big shots across the park. The playful banter highlighted their close bond and Yuvraj’s keen eye for technical aspects of batting.

“Good start to the series boys ! great tone set by our bowlers and well played sir !@IamAbhiSharma4 top knock ‘!! I’m impressed you hit 2 boundaries down the ground as well,” Yuvraj said.

Abhishek hit his fifty in just 20 balls, the second-fastest by any Indian batter against England, only behind his mentor Yuvraj Singh.

India’s chase of a modest 133-run target at Eden Gardens was not without its challenges. Early dismissals of Sanju Samson (26) and captain Suryakumar Yadav (0) put pressure on the middle order. But Abhishek stepped up, playing a match-defining knock of 79 off just 34 balls, studded with eight sixes and five boundaries. His aggressive yet composed innings ensured India recovered swiftly and achieved the target with ease, establishing an early upper hand in the series.

Abhishek’s position in the team had been under scrutiny due to inconsistent performances. Despite a promising start to his international career, including a century against Zimbabwe, he struggled to maintain form, amassing just 256 runs in 13 T20Is, with only one fifty apart from the century. Calls for replacements like Yashasvi Jaiswal or Shubman Gill had grown louder, but his commanding performance against England silenced critics.

Yuvraj’s encouragement reflects the faith senior players and mentors have in Abhishek’s talent. His ability to adapt and deliver under pressure was evident, particularly in his partnership with Tilak Varma, which added 84 runs off just 42 balls for the third wicket.

Abhishek’s knock has not only boosted his confidence but also set a promising tone for the series. With four matches still to play, he has a golden opportunity to solidify his place in the squad and stake his claim for India’s future T20I plans.

May be an image of 1 person and text

See insights and ads

Boost post

Like

Comment

Send

Share

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *