Gambhir's high praise for Abhishek's century vs England: Haven't seen one like this

India head coach Gautam Gambhir hailed Abhishek Sharma's fearless 135-run knock against England as the best T20I innings he has seen, praising the youngster's aggressive approach against Jofra Archer and Mark Wood in a dominant victory for India.

In Short

• Abhishek smashed 135 off 54 balls vs England in Mumbai
• Gambhir hailed Abhishek’s fearless century the best he has seen
• India thrashed England by 150 runs after bowling them out for 97

India head coach Gautam Gambhir lavished praise on Abhishek Sharma following his breathtaking century in the fifth T20I against England in Mumbai on February 2. Gambhir, in awe of the young left-hander’s fearless stroke play, called it the best T20I knock he has ever witnessed. What stood out for Gambhir was Abhishek’s aggressive intent against England’s world-class pace attack, featuring the likes of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood—something he described as daring and unique in modern T20 cricket.

Abhishek lit up the Wankhede Stadium with a sensational 135 off just 54 balls, reaching his century in only 37 deliveries. His explosive knock left both England and Indian fans stunned, playing a crucial role in India's commanding 150-run victory. With a daunting 248-run target set, England crumbled under pressure and were dismissed for a mere 97 runs. Speaking to Star Sports after the match, Gambhir heaped praise on Abhishek’s fearlessness, emphasising that very few batters would take on a high-quality pace attack with such audacity while also commending his calculated shot selection.

IND vs ENG, 5th T20I: Highlights

"I haven't seen a T20 hundred like this. And against an attack like this where you've got Jofra Archer and Mark Wood bowling at 150 consistently. Yeah, you might see a lot of T20 hundreds in IPL, but the quality of the attack, which was in front of him and for a young boy, I think taking them on from ball one was probably the best," Gambhir said.

Interestingly, Abhishek’s approach in this innings had a rare moment of restraint. The southpaw, known for his aggressive batting throughout an innings, raced to his fifty in just 17 balls but took another 20 deliveries to reach his century. This slight slowdown was uncharacteristic for Abhishek, who generally goes attacking from the get-go, best shown in his rise since his breakthrough IPL 2024 campaign with Sunrisers Hyderabad.

While Abhishek’s batting heroics stole the show, he also made an impact with the ball. Chipping in with a handy spell of 2/3, he played a part in dismantling England’s ‘Bazball’ approach, alongside Mohammed Shami, who led the bowling attack with figures of 3/25. India’s thumping win wrapped up the series in dominant fashion, while Abhishek’s performance further cemented his growing reputation as one of India’s most promising T20 stars.