Abhishek Sharma showed once again on Tuesday why he’s arguably the best T20 batter in the world, as he smashed a sensational 113 off just 38 balls to guide India to victory over New Zealand in the third T20I in Wellington. Abhishek stitched a breathtaking 43-ball 133-run opening partnership with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi , and then completed his personal hundred in only 35 balls. Following the game, former India all-rounder and T20 World Cup 2007-winner Irfan Pathan reserved heavy praise for the swashbuckling southpaw.
Because scoring a century on New Zealand soil is not a regular thing for an Indian player,” he said, the century was a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. “If you keep bowling the same line to him, allowing him to play on the off side, he won’t spare you. That’s why it is very difficult to bowl to him. If the pitch is not slow, or you don’t change your lines again and again, it is difficult to survive.
A few weeks ago, Abhishek had obliterated the record for the fastest T20I hundred by a player from an ICC full-member nation, by slamming a 30-ball ton against Afghanistan.
They are very clear; they know that he is our number one player and performs whenever he gets a chance,” Irfan said, speaking on his YouTube channel . “If anything goes wrong, even a little bit, people want him to be dropped. This happens especially on social media; I am not talking about the team management or selectors. “You would remember the World Cup final. I had given a statement that I would still back him when he was not performing. He has done a wonderful job. He is the best and most fearless hitter in the world. The way he hits on the off side is unbelievable,” Irfan added.
