England head coach Brendon McCullum praised Indian opener Abhishek Sharma‘s performance in the ultimate T20I in Mumbai, calling it probably the greatest knocks in T20I history. Abhishek blasted a formidable 135 off 54 balls, including 13 sixes and seven fours, against a powerful English bowling attack.
The young opener also became the second-fastest player to succeed in a T20I century, doing so in only 37 balls, trailing only Rohit Sharma. This was Abhishek’s second T20I century in only 17 matches, helping India post an enormous total of 247/9 of their 20 overs. In response, England collapsed for just 97, suffering a record 150-run defeat.
Reflecting on the knock, McCullum told the media [as quoted by India Today]: “We’ve seen so many players through the years on this format which have been in a position to do it – Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch, AB de Villiers – and possibly Abishek Sharma is putting his hand up as considered one of those players. Before everything, the innings we saw from Abhishek is nearly as good an innings as we’ve ever witnessed in T20 cricket.”
He further added: “He’s not only doing it against any attack, he’s doing it against 4 guys who bowl 90mph and an absolute gun leg-spinner. I’m very realistic that after I see someone come out of the phone box and play an innings like that, sometimes you throw all the several plans you would like at it but when he’s hitting it like that, you actually can’t stop it.”
“I don’t imagine you’ll be able to play any higher than that”- Michael Vaughan
Former England captain Michael Vaughan showered praise on Abhishek Sharma following his century in the ultimate T20I against England. The left-hander became considered one of only six Indian batters to attain multiple T20I centuries in only his seventeenth match within the format.
Discussing the young Indian opener on Cricbuzz, Vaughan stated [as quoted by NDTV]:
“Wonderful player. I don’t think you’ll be able to play any higher than that. If anyone’s played a greater T20 innings than that, I’ve not seen it. That was as pure and as stylish as you can possibly ever hope for.”
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