A sense of vindication swept through the Indian camp as Abhishek Sharma unfurled a destructive 55 from 30 balls in the Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe, helping India amass 256/4 at Chepauk. Four fours and four sixes lit up the Chennai sky, capping a comeback story for the beleaguered opener.
‘Waited a long time for this,’ the 25-year-old declared joyfully to the broadcast team. Tournament hardships had tested him: three league-stage ducks, plus a Namibia forfeit after a gut-wrenching infection led to Delhi hospital admission. Thursday’s 26-ball half-century changed everything, fueling semifinal dreams.
Sharma craved stability. ‘So happy to give back to the team. Hadn’t seen 10-12 balls all event – just wanted to build an innings.’
Team camaraderie shone through. ‘Incredible backing from boys in practice and hotels. They anticipated this, reminded me of prior successes, urged faith. No one made me feel like deadweight.’
On the pyrotechnic finish evoking video games, he nodded. ‘Precisely our vibe – the aggression we own yearly. Plan cooked up yesterday, honed in practice: gauge balls, then explode. As a unit, we express boldly and sustain support chains.’
This performance transcended runs; it restored a key cog in India’s machine, priming them for the T20 World Cup knockout push with renewed belief.