Abhishek Sharma finally found redemption in the biggest match of the tournament when he smashed the fastest T20 World Cup knockout fifty during India’s dominant final against New Zealand on Sunday, March 8. The Indian opener later revealed that he had walked out to bat with the bat of Shivam Dube in the top order, a change that worked perfectly as he ended his lean run in style.
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Abhishek struggled for form for most of the tournament despite entering the competition as the world number one in the T20I rankings. Speak after India’s triumph on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the 24-year-old said he simply wanted to try something different ahead of the final.
| IND vs NZ Final: Highlights | Scorecard |
“Today I was batting with Shivam Dube so thanks Dube. In the morning I felt like trying something different. Shubman (Gill) was not around so I went to Dube and picked his bat,” said Abhishek.
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The left-hander also credited the Indian dressing room for standing firmly behind him during his demanding run with the bat.
“I’ve been dealing with this phase for the last month after having my dream run for about a year and a half. One thing is very important in situations like this — the company you keep. If people around you want to help you get better, that makes a big difference. When I wasn’t contributing with the bat, everyone in the team still believed in me. They kept saying, ‘He’s going to do it,'” he said.
“I never doubted my teammates, coaches or support staff. The only question I had was why things weren’t working for me. I believe the environment around you matters a lot. The people around you should motivate you. Everyone goes through tough phases in life, not just in cricket. At that time, the company you keep becomes very important,” he added.
Abhishek’s knock in the finale proved to be a perfect response to the criticism which accompanied him throughout the tournament. Apart from his half-century against Zimbabwe in the Super 8 stage, the opener struggled to make the explosive starts he is known for.
But the final in Ahmedabad turned out to be the phase where everything clicked.
HOW ABHISHEK FOUND HIS REDEMPTION
After opening the innings, Abhishek immediately attacked the New Zealand bowlers during the power over.
The left-hander raced to his half-century in just 18 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes along the way. The knock not only gave India an initial boost but also etched its name in the record books.
Abhishek’s 18-ball fifty became the fastest half-century in the history of T20 World Cup knockout matches.
The previous record was held by New Zealand’s Finn Allen, who earlier scored a 19-ball fifty against South Africa in the tournament’s semi-final at Eden Gardens.
Abhishek eventually finished with a whopping 52 off 21 balls at a strike rate of 247.62, giving India the perfect platform after being asked to bat first.
HOW INDIA WON THE 3RD T20 WORLD CUP
India produced a ruthless batting display putting New Zealand under pressure in the final.
Sanju Samson led the charge with an impressive 89 off 46 balls, while Ishan Kishan continued his excellent tournament with a quickfire 54 off 25 deliveries.
Abhishek’s explosive start ensured India dominated the overs before Shivam Dube completed the late fireworks to help India post a massive 255/5.
Chasing that daunting target, New Zealand showed brief resistance through Tim Seifert’s 52, but the Indian bowlers soon stiffened.
Jasprit Bumrah produced a sensational spell of 4/15 while Axar Patel took 3/27 to dismantle the Kiwi batting line-up.
India eventually sealed a commanding 96-run victory, lifting their third T20 World Cup title and becoming the first team to successfully defend the trophy.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
09 March 2026 14:07 IST
