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India captain Shreyas Iyer praised opener Abhishek Sharma following his record-breaking century in the third and final T20I against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday. India secured a 127-run victory, completing a 3-0 series sweep.
Abhishek Sharma scored 108 runs off 34 balls, reaching his century in 31 deliveries. This performance surpassed the previous Indian record for the fastest T20I century, held by Rohit Sharma, who scored a 35-ball hundred against Sri Lanka in 2017. Sharma’s innings included nine fours and 11 sixes, helping India post a total of 221 for seven.
“The way Abhishek played today was flawless, and it was just pleasing to the eyes,” Iyer said during the post-match presentation. Sharma was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Series for his contributions.
In response, Afghanistan was bowled out for 94 in 14.1 overs. Ravi Bishnoi and Nitish Kumar Reddy each took three wickets, while Axar Patel contributed with two early dismissals. This result marked Afghanistan’s largest margin of defeat in T20I history and their lowest total against India in the format.
Iyer noted that he had anticipated batting first after discussing the pitch conditions with Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran. “Honestly speaking, I knew that I was going to bat today because we had a brief conversation with Ibrahim. He wanted to bowl in the first two games as well,” Iyer said.
Reflecting on his performance, Sharma credited his preparation and the support of the team management for his aggressive approach. “I feel it’s all dependent on my process before every series. It’s very particular for me, against who I play and their bowlers,” Sharma said. He added that the team’s current culture focuses on maintaining dominance regardless of the opposition as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup.
Iyer also commended Axar Patel for his consistency and experience, stating that the spinner remains a reliable option in critical situations.
Article source: www.srilankasource.com | Image credit: www.srilankasource.com
