'Why change your style now?': How father Rajkumar Sharma helped Abhishek overcome disappointing debut against Zimbabwe

NEW DELHI: India opener Abhishek Sharma scored a remarkable century in the second T20I against Zimbabwe on Sunday, bouncing back impressively after being dismissed for a duck in his debut. His father's encouraging advice played a crucial role in his comeback, helping him achieve the joint third-fastest T20I century by an Indian batter.
Abhishek's stunning 100 off 47 balls helped India post a formidable total of 234/2 in 20 overs, leading to a commanding 100-run victory that leveled the five-match series at 1-1.
Rajkumar Sharma, Abhishek's father, shared details of their conversation following Abhishek's disappointing debut.

"He was a bit dejected. You can’t blame him. When you get out on nought on your debut, you do question your approach. He was blaming himself for his six-hitting obsession. I reminded him that his six-hitting ability has helped him reach here. Why change your style now? Stick to your strength," Rajkumar told the Indian Express.
True to his father's advice, Abhishek began his innings in the second T20I with a six and maintained his aggressive style throughout. He even completed his century with a hat-trick of sixes, showcasing his natural game.

Reflecting on his son's performance, Rajkumar added, "He wanted to get off the mark with a six. He misread the length and couldn’t connect it. But today, he not only started his innings with a six but also completed his century with the maximum."
India had lost the series opener by 13 runs after failing to chase down a modest target of 116. The turnaround in the second match was significant, largely due to Abhishek's heroics.
Rajkumar also praised the influence of Rohit Sharma on his son's game.
"The demand of T20 cricket now is to attack from ball one. You have to be brave. Rohit Sharma has shown the way for all the Indian youngsters. The template is set and I am glad that Abhishek is trying to follow in the footsteps of Rohit. I hope he continues to play in this style and I don’t believe that this approach is a double-edged sword. He has shown consistency."
Abhishek’s stellar IPL 2024 season, where he scored 482 runs at an average of 32.27 and a strike rate of 204.22 in 16 innings, earned him his maiden national call-up. With performances like these, he is proving that his aggressive style is well-suited for the international stage.