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Abhishek Sharma's Blazing 55 Ends Duck Streak, Powers India to 256/4 vs Zimbabwe

Abhishek Sharma broke his run of poor form with a blistering 55 off an unspecified number of balls, marking his first half-century of the tournament. He revealed he had been eagerly waiting for this moment after scoring three ducks and missing a match due to illness. The opener credited the Indian team's supportive environment for keeping his confidence high during his lean patch. Sharma emphasized the team's plan to bat with aggressive intent, which culminated in a formidable total of 256/4 against Zimbabwe.

Key Points: Abhishek Sharma's 55 Leads India to 256/4 in T20 World Cup

  • Ended a streak of three ducks
  • Scored first T20 WC fifty in 26 balls
  • Credited team's unwavering support
  • India posts massive 256/4
  • Aims to express batting intent
3 min read

T20 WC: Was waiting for this moment for quite a long time now, says Abhishek Sharma

After three ducks, Abhishek Sharma hits a 26-ball 50 against Zimbabwe, crediting team support for his comeback in the T20 World Cup Super Eight.

"I was waiting for this moment for quite a long time now, so finally it's happening. - Abhishek Sharma"

Chennai, Feb 26

After hitting a blazing 55 as India posted a massive 256/4 against Zimbabwe in their Super Eight clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma said he was waiting to have this moment in the tournament for quite a long time now and felt elated on making big runs for the defending champions.

Abhishek had made three ducks in the league stage and even missed the clash against Namibia due to a stomach infection needing hospitalisation in New Delhi. But his making a fifty off 26 - his first half-century in the T20 World Cup - will do him a world of good in India's quest to enter the semi-finals.

"It's always great when you contribute to the team, and I was waiting for this moment for quite a long time now, so finally it's happening. I'm really happy. I would say it wasn't that intentional (about slowing down), but I just wanted to spend some time at the pitch because if you see, I haven't even played 10-12 balls in the whole tournament yet," he told the broadcasters in the mid-innings chat.

He also credited the Indian team for backing him to come good. "So I just wanted to spend some time and make a special mention to the team, the way they've treated me so far. It was like, at the end, you wouldn't feel that I wasn't scoring runs for the team.

"I mean, in the practice sessions and hotels as well, they all were just waiting for this moment, and they all were just reminding me that, 'You have done this before as well, and your time is not so far. You just keep believing.' So that's happened," added Abhishek.

Asked if India's innings at the back-end felt like a video game, Abhishek said, "Of course. I mean, the way they have finished the innings, I feel the intent is back, the way they wanted, and played the whole year. I mean, that was the plan we decided yesterday, as well as a batting unit that, if we feel that we have faced enough balls or maybe we have seen enough balls, just go out and express yourself.

"I mean, it wasn't going so far that well, but that was the plan we had yesterday and the day before as well at the practice sessions. As a batter and a batting unit, we have to go and express ourselves. That's how we were playing the whole year, and that's how we're going to back each other," he concluded.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
So happy for him! You could see the relief on his face. It's great the team environment is so supportive. We need this momentum for the semi-finals!
V
Vikram M
Fantastic knock, but let's be honest, we need this consistency from our openers in every match, not just after a string of failures. The real test is the knockout games now.
R
Rohit P
55 off 26 balls is exactly the kind of explosive start we needed. The intent he talked about was visible. Hope he carries this form forward. Chak De India!
S
Sarah B
Watching from the US, and that innings was pure fire! The way the team rallied around him after his tough start is what champions are made of. Go India!
K
Karthik V
Respect for his honesty about just wanting to spend time at the crease. Sometimes that's all it takes for a quality player to find his rhythm. Well played, Abhishek!

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