Abhishek Sharma reveals he used Shivam Dube’s bat in T20 final; also name-drops Shubman Gill

For most of the T20 World Cup, Abhishek Sharma looked like a man searching for answers. Three ducks in a row, a couple of quiet scores after that, and questions growing louder with every match. He looked woefully out of form, with fans cheering even single boundaries of his. By the time the final against New Zealand arrived in Ahmedabad, very few expected him to play a major role.

Then came Sunday night at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Kudos to India for sticking with the youngster. In front of almost a lakh fans, Abhishek flipped the script. The left-hander smashed a breathtaking 52 off just 21 balls, reaching his half-century in only 18 deliveries. Six fours and three sixes flew off his bat as he helped India race to a blazing start alongside Sanju Samson. Their 96-run opening burst in the powerplay equalled the highest powerplay total in T20 World Cup history.

Interestingly, the bat he used did not even belong to him.

Dube’s bat, Gill’s absence and a comeback knock

After the match, Abhishek revealed that he had picked up Shivam Dube’s bat on the morning of the final. His 18-ball fifty is now the third-fastest in World Cup history, behind Yuvraj Singh’s iconic 12-ball blitz and Marcus Stoinis’ 17-ball effort in 2022.

“Today I batted with Shivam Dube’s bat, so thank you Dube,” Abhishek said. “In the morning I felt like trying something different. Shubman (Gill) was not around, so I walked up to Dube and picked his bat.“

Gill, who had been India’s T20I vice-captain until the last series before the World Cup, was left out of the squad due to a prolonged lean run with the bat. His omission opened the door for players like Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, both of whom made the most of their chances during the tournament.

Abhishek’s innings in the final also carried a hint of patience early on. His first ball against Glenn Phillips was a calm forward defence, a sign that he was willing to take a moment before attacking. Once he felt comfortable with the pitch, the strokes began to flow.

Reflecting on his difficult run through the tournament, Abhishek admitted the last month had tested him. “I have been dealing with this phase for the last one month after having a dream run for about a year and a half. One thing matters a lot in such situations — the company you keep. If the people around you want to help you become better, it makes a big difference. When I was not contributing with the bat, everyone in the team still believed in me. They kept saying, ‘He will do it’.”

The post Abhishek Sharma reveals he used Shivam Dube’s bat in T20 final; also name-drops Shubman Gill appeared first on Inside Sport India.

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