Abhishek Sharma’s 38-Ball Blitz Overshadows Yuvraj Singh’s 12-Ball Fifty Challenge

India opener Abhishek Sharma has played down his mentor Yuvraj Singh’s challenge to score a half-century off just 12 balls, saying such a feat is far from easy and happens only occasionally. His remarks came after he smashed a match-winning 113 off 38 balls against New Zealand in the third T20I here on Tuesday.

India registered a six-wicket victory, with Abhishek earning the Player of the Match award for his explosive batting performance.

Responding to Yuvraj’s playful social media remark that Abhishek was yet to achieve a 12-ball fifty, the left-hander said batters do not approach the game with such individual milestones in mind.

“I don't know what cricket he was playing back at that time, but it's not that easy at all,” Abhishek said during the post-match presentation.

He added that scoring 50 runs off 12 deliveries was an exceptional achievement that could not be planned or guaranteed. Instead, he said, the priority for him and young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was to give India an aggressive start and maintain the momentum to help the team win.

Abhishek credited the coaching staff and their extensive practice sessions with sidearm deliveries for helping him execute his attacking game. He said preparation played a crucial role in understanding conditions, assessing ground dimensions and adapting his shots according to the bowlers.

The left-hander also revealed that Monday’s practice session had been productive and that he was determined to make the most of it. He said he had visualised delivering a strong innings and was pleased that his preparation translated into a match-winning performance.

Abhishek also praised Sooryavanshi’s aggressive approach in the opening over, describing his start as special. He said the pair’s strategy was to seize the initiative early and keep the pressure on New Zealand throughout the innings.

The century further underlined Abhishek’s attacking approach at the top of the order. However, his response to Yuvraj’s challenge highlighted his belief that team success and preparation matter more than chasing individual batting records.

With India securing an important victory in the series, Abhishek said the opening partnership’s positive intent was something the team wanted to carry forward into the remaining matches.