Mumbai, Feb 2 (PTI) – Abhishek Sharma delivered a masterclass in aggressive batting, smashing a record-breaking 135 off 54 balls to power India to a resounding 150-run victory over England in the fifth and final T20I at the Wankhede Stadium. His blistering knock, which included the second-fastest century by an Indian in T20Is, helped the hosts clinch the series 4-1 in emphatic fashion.
The left-hander, mentored by former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, attributed his success to being prepared for high-velocity bowling and maintaining an attacking mindset from the outset.
"A Special Innings for the Country"
"It's a special one. Scoring for the country always feels great. When I see it's my day, I try to go from the first ball," Abhishek said after his match-winning performance. He credited coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Suryakumar Yadav for backing his fearless approach.
"They've always wanted this intent. When you're facing bowlers hitting 140-150 kmph, you have to be ready earlier and just react. Hitting a world-class bowler like Jofra Archer over the covers is always special, but I enjoyed my shots against Adil Rashid as well."
Abhishek also reflected on the influence of Yuvraj Singh in his career. "He's always wanted me to bat deep into the innings, and I tried to implement that today. He should be happy," he added.
All-Round Brilliance from Shivam Dube
Shivam Dube contributed effectively, scoring 30 runs and picking up two crucial wickets. He relished the opportunity to bowl, having missed out in the previous match.
"It feels great when you contribute as an all-rounder. I was really excited to bowl today," Dube said. He revealed that Abhishek had encouraged him to play freely on a good batting surface.
"(Bowling coach) Morne Morkel has helped me with my angles, and I executed well today," said Dube, who had suffered a concussion in the previous game.
Varun Chakravarthy Shines, Earns Player of the Series Award
Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, named Player of the Series, was thrilled with his bowling and the crowd’s appreciation of his improved fielding.
"I'm happy that my fielding got some applause. The team has been focusing on improving fielding standards, and I've been working hard with the coach," said Chakravarthy.
"This is the best I've bowled, but there’s still room for improvement. There were a few bad deliveries I shouldn't have bowled. It's all about delivering the right ball at the right time," he explained.
He dedicated his performance to his family. "This is very special. I would like to dedicate it to my son, wife, and parents. A big thanks to Surya and GG (Gautam Gambhir) for backing me."
Suryakumar Yadav Praises Team Effort
India captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed joy over Abhishek’s remarkable innings.
"I'm very happy for his family as well. They must have enjoyed his innings. It was a great knock," he said.
He also lauded Chakravarthy’s improved fielding. "He's been working relentlessly with our fielding coach Dilip sir, and today, he put his hand up and showed his progress."
England Skipper Buttler Acknowledges India’s Dominance
England captain Jos Buttler admitted his team fell short but saw positives in their campaign.
"We're disappointed to lose the series, but we’ve done some things well and some areas need improvement. We want to keep committing to our style of cricket and execute better," Buttler said.
"India are a fantastic side, especially at home. Playing in front of great crowds like this at the Wankhede is a valuable experience. Some of our bowlers did well today, especially Brydon Carse and Mark Wood. But Abhishek's innings was one of the best I’ve ever seen."
With this dominant victory, India further cemented its stature as a T20 powerhouse, while England will return home with lessons to refine their approach for future contests.
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