Abhishek Sharma (BCCI Photo) NEW DELHI: Abhishek Sharma believes the backing of captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Gautam Gambhir has played an important role in allowing him to play his natural game. Abhishek made the most of that freedom on Thursday, smashing a record 30-ball century against Afghanistan in the third and final T20I in Delhi.
His 108 off 34 balls, which included 11 sixes, helped India post 221/7 and complete a 3-0 series sweep with a 127-run win. The left-hander was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Series after finishing the three-match series with 209 runs.
Speaking after his match-winning knock, Abhishek said the team culture and the support of the captain and coach have allowed him to express himself without worrying about failures." I've told in the first interview as well.
We've been doing this last two years. One or two bad series won't define us as a batting department.
We wanted to dominate throughout the whole year before the world cup no matter who the opposition is. I feel as a batter, sometimes you have up and downs.
The most important thing is as a team we have to be together and support each other. That's how these innings happen," Abhishek said at thye post match presentation."
I feel it's all dependent on my process before every series. It's very particular for me, against who I play and their bowlers.
How I'm going to utilise the powerplay. Who's going to bowl the powerplay, the 7th over, the 8th over," he said."
And the way I play, it's very important for the captain and the coach to be on your side. You have to get surety.
I feel this is because of them as well. I feel I don't want to restrict any area.
It's just watch the ball and play according to it. It's very simple from day one.
I just want to express myself. Just see the ball and hit the ball.
You can't be sure you'll be doing well all the time but the culture we've developed in our team is to dominate and it's been going well so far," Abhishek said. Abhishek turns dead rubber into his nightWith India having already sealed the series, the third T20I was a dead rubber.
Abhishek, however, ensured there was little doubt about where the spotlight would be. It was the first time in the series that India batted first and Abhishek immediately went after the Afghanistan attack.
