Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India, October 11 (ANI): Opener Abhishek Sharma became the sixth Indian batter to reach 2,000 runs in T20 internationals during the third T20I against the West Indies in Indore on Sunday.
At Holkar Stadium, Abhishek scored 69 runs off 30 balls, including six fours and five sixes, at a strike rate of 230.00.
In 65 T20Is and 64 innings, Abhishek has scored 2,036 runs at an average of 32.83 and a strike rate of 195.95. His tally includes three centuries and 14 half-centuries, with a highest score of 135 not out.
The other five members of India’s 2,000-run club are Rohit Sharma (4,231 runs), Virat Kohli (4,188), Suryakumar Yadav (3,272), Hardik Pandya (2,288) and KL Rahul (2,265).
Despite a few setbacks, this year has been highly productive for Abhishek. He has scored 921 runs in 32 matches and innings at an average of 29.70 and a strike rate of 206.50, including one century and eight half-centuries. His 108-run innings was the fastest T20I century by a batter from a Test-playing nation.
Abhishek has hit 68 sixes this year, tying India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain, Suryakumar Yadav, for the most sixes in T20Is in a calendar year. Abhishek’s balls-per-six ratio of 6.55 is significantly lower than Suryakumar’s 9.13.
Sunday marked the seventh time Abhishek had reached a half-century within the first six overs of a T20I. No other player has achieved the feat more than twice. He reached his half-century in just 18 balls.
In the match, India was put in to field first. After Sanju Samson was dismissed for just three runs, Abhishek and Ishan Kishan, who scored 37 off 18 balls with six fours and a six, added an entertaining 108-run partnership for the second wicket. However, a comeback by the West Indies bowlers left India at 125/4 at the halfway point.
West Indies Playing XI: Shai Hope (wicketkeeper and captain), Kamil Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Keemo Paul, Roston Chase, Shamar Springer, Shamar Joseph and Gudakesh Motie.
India Playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav. (ANI)
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