Following Abhishek Sharma’s remarkable performance that saw him score 75 runs, securing India’s 41-run victory over Bangladesh in the Men’s T20 Asia Cup Super 4 match, his family shared their mixed feelings. The match, held at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, saw Sharma unfortunately run out, just shy of a century. Despite this, his stellar contribution was pivotal in propelling India into the Asia Cup final.
Abhishek’s sister, Komal Sharma, expressed her sentiments after the game. “It’s okay, it’s a part of the game to be honest, but yes, today’s dismissal was a little hurtful as it was a run out,” she stated. “But yes, it’s loading, it’s loading, guys, he’s gonna make a century soon.”
Komal also highlighted the strong bond and guidance Abhishek receives from his mentor, Yuvraj Singh. She emphasized that Abhishek diligently follows Singh’s advice, receiving instructions before and after each match, covering both his successes and areas for improvement.
Furthermore, Komal revealed that Abhishek considers his mother his lucky charm and prioritizes overall team success. “It’s okay, he’s still winning, he’s playing well. It felt really good, the whole team is playing well, everyone is praying for him to play well,” she added.
Concluding her heartfelt message, she conveyed the family’s ultimate wish: “Finally, we just want the trophy home and we are wishing all the team members of Team India to do their best and win the trophy home.”
Sharma’s impressive innings of 75 from just 39 deliveries allowed him to surpass his mentor, Yuvraj Singh, for the most T20I innings by an Indian player with five or more sixes. Abhishek now boasts six such knocks, placing him behind only Rohit Sharma (13) and Suryakumar Yadav (9).
He also made history in the 2025 Asia Cup edition by hitting 17 sixes, the highest count by any player in a single tournament across all formats.
The match began with Bangladesh’s stand-in captain Jaker Ali winning the toss and choosing to field. India’s opening duo, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill (29 off 19), provided a flying start, accumulating 72 runs within the Power-play.
However, the Indian innings faced a setback following Sharma’s run-out by Rishad Hossain. The middle order saw quick dismissals, with Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma each scoring 5 runs, and Shivam Dube contributing 2.
Resilient efforts from Hardik Pandya, who scored 38 off 29 balls, and an unbeaten 10 off 15 from Axar Patel, helped India post a total of 168/6. Bangladesh’s bowlers, particularly Rishad Hossain (2-27) and Tanzim Hasan Sakib (1-29), were effective in containing India’s middle-order batsmen.
In their chase, Bangladesh was led by Saif Hassan, who scored a solid 69 off 51 balls, despite being given three lifelines due to dropped catches by Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, and Sanju Samson. He formed a crucial 42-run partnership with Parvez Hossain Emon (21 off 19).
India’s spin attack proved dominant during the middle overs, with Kuldeep Yadav claiming 3-18 and Varun Chakravarthy taking 2-29. Jasprit Bumrah also contributed with 2-18, while Axar Patel secured 1-37. Tilak Varma took the final wicket of Mustafizur Rahman, leading to Bangladesh’s dismissal for 127 runs.
This victory marked India’s fifth consecutive win in the tournament, firmly securing their place in the final. With Sri Lanka already eliminated, Bangladesh and Pakistan are now set to battle it out in a virtual semifinal for the remaining spot in the championship match.
India’s Abhishek Sharma celebrates his fifty runs (AP/PTI)