Abhishek Sharma delivered a spectacular performance in the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, smashing an explosive 52 runs off just 21 balls. His rapid half-century, achieved in a mere 18 deliveries, stood as the quickest of the tournament. Following the match, Sharma revealed a surprising detail: he played this pivotal innings using a bat borrowed from teammate Shivam Dube.
“I used Shivam Dube’s bat; a big thank you to him,” Sharma shared. “I woke up that morning feeling a desire to try something new. Since Shubman Gill wasn’t around, I approached Dube and simply picked up his bat.”
He further elaborated on the unwavering support he received from his teammates despite his earlier struggles during the T20 World Cup campaign. Sharma admitted, “For the past month, I’ve been navigating a challenging period after enjoying a fantastic run for about eighteen months. In such situations, the people you surround yourself with are incredibly important. Having individuals who are dedicated to helping you improve makes a significant difference. Even when my batting contributions were lacking, everyone in the team maintained their faith in me, constantly asserting, ‘He will deliver.’ My trust in my teammates, coaches, and support staff never wavered.” He added, “My only internal question was why things weren’t clicking for me. I firmly believe that your environment plays a crucial role; the people around you must be a source of motivation. Everyone faces difficult phases in life, not just in sports, and during those times, the company you keep becomes paramount.”
The Punjab all-rounder underscored the critical role of self-belief. He asserted that one cannot effectively contribute to the team if plagued by self-doubt, and maintaining self-confidence is the only path forward.
Sharma concluded by stating, “The most important thing is to trust yourself, regardless of how tough a phase you’re in. Doubting yourself leads to pressure and prevents you from playing your natural game, which ultimately doesn’t benefit the team. Self-confidence, diligent effort, and helping others are all vital. When you extend help to others, it invariably finds its way back to you.”
