When you are making your way as a batter in India, it helps to have a legend in your corner.
Abhishek Sharma brutally destroyed England’s bowling by striking 135 in India’s crushing victory in the fifth T20.
It was the kind of assault his mentor Yuvraj Singh used to inflict. Just ask Stuart Broad.
“He always wanted me to bat until 15 or 20 overs,” Abhishek said after his destruction was complete – a knock of 54 balls which included 13 sixes, the most by an India batter in T20s.
“Today was my day.”
Abhishek had only just left the field, raising his bat as the Mumbai crowd chanted his name, when Yuvraj delivered his verdict.
“That’s where I want to see you,” said Yuvraj. “Proud of you.”
Abhishek’s relationship with his fellow left-hander Yuvraj goes back to when their paths crossed while playing first-class cricket for Punjab – Yuvraj at the end of his career, Abhishek at the start.
What began as a bond between team-mates has taken on a more consistent mentorship in recent years.
“The big backlift and the flow of the bat is very reminiscent of Yuvraj Singh,” Test Match Special commentator Prakash Wakankar told BBC Sport.
“Yuvi sees in Abhishek some of his unfulfilled career, which was cut short.”
On Abhishek’s 24th birthday last year, Yuvraj posted a video on Instagram of the pair practising in the nets. With Yuvraj watching on, Abhishek crunched a straight six.
It was a shot he played repeatedly against England – a towering strike off Brydon Carse the highlight.
“That was the special shot that Yuvraj mentioned before, so he was happy with the shots,” said Abhishek.
Abhishek’s day in stats
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Abhishek hit India’s highest score in a T20 international, beating Shubman Gill’s 126 against New Zealand in 2023
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It was the sixth-highest individual T20 score in a match involving Test-playing nations
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His fifty was scored from 17 balls, the second-fastest for an Indian batter behind Yuvraj’s 12-ball half-century against England in 2007
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His hundred came from 37 deliveries, the third-fastest hundred in a match between Test-playing nations, behind Rohit Sharma and David Miller’s 35-ball centuries in the format
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