‘Just want to win matches for team’: Abhishek Sharma responds to Yuvraj Singh’s ‘No 12-ball 50’ jibe

‘Just want to win matches for team’: Abhishek Sharma responds to Yuvraj Singh’s ‘No 12-ball 50’ jibe

Abhishek Sharma’s 38-Ball Century Powers India to T20I Win as Yuvraj Singh Sets a New Challenge

Abhishek Sharma answered his mentor Yuvraj Singh with a match-winning performance, smashing a remarkable 113 from just 38 deliveries as India defeated New Zealand in the third T20I of their five-match series. The explosive innings helped India chase a challenging target of 199 and put the hosts in control of the contest.

Sharma’s century was a statement of intent, combining clean hitting with the confidence to attack from the outset. He reached his half-century in only 15 balls and kept scoring at a relentless pace, leaving New Zealand’s bowlers with few opportunities to settle. Yet even after producing one of the standout innings of the series, the young opener still has a playful milestone to chase: Yuvraj’s famous 12-ball T20I half-century.

Yuvraj Singh’s playful prediction for his protégé

After the match, Yuvraj praised the performance of India’s two left-handed openers, Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, while joking that his student had not yet matched his fastest fifty.

“You still can’t get 50 off 12, can you, Abhishek Sharma! Looks like two left-handers batting in their backyard!” Yuvraj wrote on X.

The remark was a light-hearted reference to one of the most memorable moments in T20 cricket. Yuvraj scored a half-century from just 12 balls against England at the 2007 T20 World Cup in Durban. During that innings, he struck Stuart Broad for six sixes in a single over, creating a landmark moment in the tournament’s history.

Yuvraj’s post was more than praise for a spectacular score. It also reflected the close relationship between the former India all-rounder and Sharma, whom he has mentored. The joke turned the century into a friendly challenge—and gave fans another prediction to debate: could Sharma one day reach the 12-ball mark?

Abhishek Sharma puts team victory ahead of records

Asked about Yuvraj’s message after the game, Sharma responded with humour and respect. He acknowledged how difficult it is to score a half-century in 12 balls, even for a batter playing at the highest level, and stressed that personal records are not his main focus.

“I don’t know what cricket Yuvi pa was playing at the time. If anyone wants to go out and bat like that, it is not easy. It is not easy to get a fifty in 12 balls, but we do not think about that; we want to just win the match for our team,” Sharma said.

That answer captured the balance behind his aggressive style. Sharma’s attacking approach can produce extraordinary numbers, but he framed the innings around India’s result rather than the records it generated. His 113 was not simply a personal milestone; it was the decisive contribution in a demanding chase.

New Zealand post 198 after Mitchell leads the recovery

New Zealand made 198 for three in their 20 overs after being asked to bat first. Their innings began with an early setback when Tim Seifert was dismissed, but Finn Allen and Daryl Mitchell rebuilt the innings and then accelerated.

Allen contributed 40 from 25 balls before departing, while Mitchell anchored the innings and finished unbeaten on 89 from 52 deliveries. He found support from Bevon Jacobs during the closing stages, helping New Zealand add valuable runs and set India a target close to 200.

The total was substantial, particularly given New Zealand’s strong finish. India needed a fast start to keep the required rate manageable—and the opening partnership delivered precisely that.

Sooryavanshi and Sharma launch India’s chase

India’s team management made a notable adjustment to the batting order, sending Sharma out to open alongside Sooryavanshi and moving Sanju Samson to No. 3. The change proved effective almost immediately. Both left-handers attacked in the powerplay, putting pressure on New Zealand’s bowlers and giving India a strong platform.

Sooryavanshi struck 45 from 19 balls, adding to the early surge before losing his wicket in the eighth over. By then, India had reached 133, dramatically shifting the pressure onto the visitors. The openers’ rapid scoring meant the rest of the batting order could approach the chase with greater freedom, even as India lost wickets along the way.

Sharma remained the central figure. His timing and power kept the chase moving, and New Zealand struggled to find a way to slow him down. With the required rate under control and a set batter at the crease, India were able to overcome the target despite losing four wickets.

What Sharma’s innings means for India

The result gives India a significant boost in the five-match T20I series and highlights the value of a flexible, attack-minded top order. Sharma’s innings showed how quickly a large target can become achievable when an opener dominates the powerplay and continues to score at pace. Sooryavanshi’s contribution also underlined the impact of pairing two aggressive left-handers at the top.

For Sharma, the performance adds another major chapter to his growing T20I profile. His 38-ball century demonstrated both his ability to clear the boundary and his capacity to maintain pressure throughout a chase. The innings also offers a reminder that modern T20 cricket is not only about hitting a few big overs; sustained aggression can force opponents to rethink their plans from the very start.

Yuvraj’s 12-ball challenge may remain a playful benchmark for now, but Sharma’s response suggests he is not chasing a prediction for its own sake. His priority, as he made clear, is helping India win. After this performance, however, the friendly question is likely to follow him: how close can he get to the record that his mentor set?

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