(Image source from: Twitter.com/BCCI)
Abhishek Sharma shattered records all around him, dismantling England's pace-heavy T20I bowling attack as he surged to 135 runs off just 54 deliveries. This remarkable innings set a new benchmark for the highest score by an Indian player in T20 internationals. With his phenomenal performance, India amassed a colossal total of 247 for 9, leading them to a resounding 150-run triumph and securing a 4-1 finish in the series. On England's side, Phil Salt showed glimpses of the outstanding form he displayed in last year's IPL, racing to a fifty in just 21 balls. However, his effort proved insufficient against an overwhelmed English side, which collapsed to a mere 97 all out in just 10.3 overs.
Even after his extraordinary batting display, Abhishek remained integral to the game. Initially, he was in the covers to intercept Ben Duckett’s first-ball attempt, setting up Mohammed Shami for one of his three wickets. Following the dismissals of Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, and Liam Livingstone, all struggling to keep pace with the required scoring rate, Abhishek was brought on to bowl the ninth over. He quickly grabbed two wickets in five deliveries, sending Brydon Carse and Jamie Overton back to the pavilion. Despite his bowling contributions, the focal point of the day was undoubtedly his batting.
Abhishek's innings was nothing short of exhilarating, featuring a record-breaking 13 sixes for India, which averages out to nearly one every four balls he faced, predominantly sent soaring over the area from point to mid-on, putting the spectators at extra cover in a precarious position. His fifty came in just 17 balls, marking the second-fastest for India in T20Is, while his century in 37 balls fell just behind David Miller’s record of 35 balls against Bangladesh in 2017 for contests involving Full Member countries. Under Abhishek's leadership, India posted 95 for 1 during the six-over powerplay, establishing yet another national record despite being asked to bat first by Jos Buttler.
At certain moments, watching Abhishek play felt akin to engaging in a highly accurate game of Stick Cricket, as he displayed unwavering confidence in the pitch and capitalized on England's predictable lengths, effortlessly dispatching deliveries, even those exceeding 150 kph. By the end of the ten-over mark, India’s aspirations seemed limitless with Abhishek nearing a remarkable 99 runs from 36 balls, and the scoreboard reading 143 for 2 hinted at a potential Full Member record of 300 runs. Nevertheless, England managed to regain a foothold, largely thanks to Brydon Carse's impressive three-wicket haul. As Abhishek celebrated his hundred with a rare single into the covers, his scoring pace slowed noticeably, managing only nine runs off nine balls in the subsequent six overs.
India's relentless assault couldn't be fully restrained, though. Abhishek regained his momentum as Carse's final over yielded 17 runs. A strategic matchup with Adil Rashid led to a misplayed wrong 'un that resulted in a catch to deep cover, but this occurrence came only after Abhishek had sent two sixes soaring over the bowler’s head. Tension was palpable following the events in Pune, where Harshit Rana's contentious entry as Shivam Dube's concussion substitute left England feeling quite aggrieved. At the toss, Buttler’s remark referring to England's four non-participating players as "impact subs" added a layer of humor to the ongoing controversy.
The quick return of Dube, just two days after a significant blow to his helmet from Overton, further fueled England's skepticism regarding that decision. Nevertheless, Dube not only showed no signs of distress but also demonstrated that his bowling—though noticeably not as fast as Harshit’s—could effectively make an impact. His opening delivery at the beginning of the eighth over effectively marked the end of England's innings. Salt had aggressively scored 17 runs from Shami's initial over, representing the only time England briefly outpaced India's scoring rate, but when he edged Dube's delivery at 117kph to Dhruv Jurel, England were left floundering at 82 for 5. Dube then dismissed Jacob Bethell with his opening ball in the following over, and for added emphasis, he also smashed 30 runs off just 13 balls.
Carse has enjoyed an outstanding breakthrough winter with England across all formats. His eagerness to tackle the crucial overs has made him a reliable option as the third seamer in Test matches, and many of his bold characteristics were on display in the challenging match conditions today. Carse commenced his spell with India racing ahead at over 15 runs an over, having amassed 127 for 1 after eight overs. From the beginning, his capability to deliver effective lengths combined with clever variations in pace distinguished him from his teammates, who had opted for a more straightforward approach. Mark Wood and Jofra Archer set the aggressive tone during the powerplay, which was thrilling yet blunt in execution. Archer's first-over clash with Sanju Samson resulted in two sixes, 16 runs, and a painful cut to the finger from a sharp rising ball; Wood's follow-up never dropped below 150kph, ultimately resulting in Samson's dismissal at deep square leg—his fifth out from the pull shot in as many innings this series. Suryakumar Yadav faced a similar fate, again falling victim to a leading edge, concluding his series with a mere 28 runs across five innings. However, with Abhishek performing well at the other end, these struggles were not overly consequential.
