.jpg?type=hq)
India team huddle before 1st T20I - (Source: ScreenGrab)
On Thursday, October 22, India scripted history as they chased down their highest-ever total in T20Is. The Shreyas Iyer-led side was tasked with chasing a mammoth 230-run target, but the Men in Blue did it comfortably with 2 balls remaining and four wickets in hand.
Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson set the platform with a 93-run opening stand. Abhishek scored 29 (12), but Samson was the real star with the bat with his 67 (33). India oozed confidence, and Abhishek’s pre-match conversation played a key part in it.
Abhishek Sharma Warns Indian Mates Not to Be Friendly With Kiwis
In the latest update, the BCCI has dropped a special behind-the-scenes video, where Abhishek addressed the team huddle and warned them not to repeat the mistakes made against the West Indies. For the unversed, India levelled the T20I series against Windies 2-2.
In the pep talk, Abhishek stated that the team got friendly with the Windies and played against them as friends. He warned that the team should not repeat the same mistake because the Blackcaps would try to do the same.
“Against West Indies we made a few mistakes. We played them as a friend. Same for these guys, They gonna challenge us in that way. So let's show them why we are the world champions. So let's dominate them and win the first match,” remarked Abhishek.
Watch the video below:
Abhishek Leaves Strong Impression In 1st T20I vs New Zealand
Abhishek Sharma left a lasting impression in 1st T20I vs New Zealand as he slammed a first-ball six. It marked Sharma's seventh first-ball maximum in T20I cricket.
With that, he overtook Afghanistan's Samiullah Shinwari, who had smashed six first-ball sixes to become the leading player with most sixes on the first ball of a T20I match.
Most sixes hit off the first ball faced in T20Is
- 7 - Abhishek Sharma (India)*
- 6 - Samiullah Shinwari (Afghanistan)
- 5 - Suryakumar Yadav (India)
- 4 - Paul Stirling (Ireland), Colin Munro (New Zealand), Mohammad Naveed (UAE)
