Just Go, Express Yourself : Abhishek Sharma Credits Team Management For Match-Winning Knock
India's young opener Abhishek Sharma showcased a fiery knock in the first T20I match against England at the Eden Gardens on January 22. He played a match-winning knock, scoring 79 runs off 34 balls, smashing five fours and eight sixes. After the match, the southpaw revealed the confidence he was given by the team management, which allowed him to play a fearless knock in the game.
After Sanju Samson's and skipper Suryakumar Yadav's early dismissals, the Men in Blue struggled a bit. But Abhishek took the responsibility on his shoulders and played a key role in India's win of 7 wickets. He built a partnership with Tilak Verma (19 not out) at a strike rate of 200.
When the 24-year-old was asked about his fearless approach in the game, he credited team management for his performance.
"I have always thought from the start to be a team player. In India there will always be a lot of competition (when it comes to selection) in our senior team. But when Suryakumar and Gautam paaji tell me to always keep my intent, that was a big moment for me, that when the team wants me to do that, then I can do it."
He also said that the coach and captain have managed all players very well, stating them to play and express themselves in the game. When such things come from the management, then these things give confidence.
"As a batsman, it can play on your mind if you don't score runs in 3-4-5 innings, but the way the coach and captain have managed all the players, even when I've not done well—even then they tell us, 'We know you're gonna win the game for us, any game; just go and express yourself. I think when the captain or coach says this, you get confidence and you back yourself."
Further, Abhishek credited Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh for guidance in his career, and he feels very lucky to have him in this journey.
"I believe I'm very lucky in this. I've been working with Yuvi paaji at first. Going forward, I had Brian Lara, who really helped me at SRH. Moving forward, Dan Vettori was pretty simple; he just wanted everyone to express themselves, and I think that gave me the freedom to play my shots. So obviously with Yuvraj Singh, Brian Lara, and Gauti Bhai right now, they just want me to showcase my talent the way I play and to back myself."