ZIM vs IND, 2nd T20I: Abhishek Sharma Blazes Maiden T20I Ton as India Post Mammoth 234

Harare: In a stunning display of power hitting, Indian opener Abhishek Sharma smashed a blistering century in just his second T20I appearance, propelling his team to a massive 234/2 against Zimbabwe in the second match of the five-game series.

Sharma, who was dismissed for a duck on debut, showcased remarkable redemption, reaching his fifty in a mere 33 balls before accelerating to a century in just 46 deliveries. His knock was laced with seven boundaries and a staggering eight sixes, achieved at a phenomenal strike rate of 212. However, he was unfortunately dismissed on the very next ball after reaching the coveted milestone.

This rapid-fire century makes Sharma the fastest Indian batsman, in terms of innings played, to score a T20I ton. He also surpassed Rohit Sharma’s record for most sixes by an Indian in T20s this year, reaching 47 compared to Rohit’s previous best of 46.

Riding the wave of Sharma’s brilliance, Ruturaj Gaikwad (77* off 47) and Rinku Singh (48* off 22) also chipped in with crucial knocks, ensuring India posted a daunting total on the board.

Earlier, Indian captain Shubman Gill elected to bat first, believing the dry wicket offered the best batting conditions. Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, on the other hand, felt the pitch would deteriorate later in the evening, expressing his preference to bowl first had he won the toss.

This dominant performance by India comes after a shocking defeat in the series opener on Saturday, where Zimbabwe emerged victorious.