Young <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/he-took-on-the-spinners-really-well-ruturaj-gaikwad-hails-abhishek-sharma-23361489" rel="none">Abhishek Sharma</a> announced his arrival on the big stage with a breathtaking 46-ball century as India pummelled Zimbabwe by a whopping 100 runs in the second T20I to restore parity in a resounding fashion here on Sunday.
This is India&rsquo;s biggest margin of victory in terms of runs against Zimbabwe in T20Is.
The young Indian side didn&rsquo;t carry the baggage of a shock 13-run defeat in the series-opener as left-handed opener Abhishek blended power with grace for a scintillating 100-run knock that propelled India to a massive 234-2 on a track where batting wasn&rsquo;t exactly easy.
The ask was already stiff and Indian bowlers got breakthroughs at regular intervals to bowl out Zimbabwe for 134 in 18.4 overs to set the record straight.
<h2>Mukesh, Avesh claim three</h2>
Pacers Mukesh Kumar (3-37) and Avesh Khan (3-15) removed top-order batters inside the Powerplay to kill the contest which became a formality after that.
The day certainly belonged to Abhishek, who mixed grace and power in equal measure in an innings, embellished with eight sixes and seven fours.
It made a normally stylish Ruturaj Gaikwad (77 not out off 47 balls) look pale in comparison during their 137-run stand for the second wicket.
Having endured the disappointment of a four-ball duck on debut, Abhishek never looked under pressure on a track which his senior partner and current CSK partner Gaikwad found &ldquo;difficult to feel set&rdquo;.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/full-faith-in-rohit-sharmas-captaincy-will-win-wtc-and-champion-trophy-jay-shah-23361464">"Full faith in Rohit Sharma's captaincy, will win WTC and Champions Trophy": Shah</a>
Abhishek said he kept belief in his hitting ability, &ldquo;I feel like if it&rsquo;s your day, you express yourself. After the drop, I thought it was my day and had to take responsibility,&rdquo; Abhishek said.
&ldquo;I always believe in my [hitting] ability. It&rsquo;s about momentum for me. If it&rsquo;s in the arc, I believe I need to hit it over regardless of when it is,&rdquo; he added.
<h2>Grateful to coaches&nbsp;</h2>
Abhishek hailed his team&rsquo;s ability to bounce back swiftly. &ldquo;It was a good performance after the defeat yesterday [Saturday]. We didn&rsquo;t have much time to lament. I felt that T20 is all about the momentum, and thought it was my day today. Special thanks to the coaches and captain for keeping confidence [in me],&rdquo; said Abhishek.
46 No. of balls taken by Abhishek Sharma to score his ton v Zimbabwe, the joint third-fastest for India in T20Is
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‘Always believed in my hitting ability’: Abhishek Sharma

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‘Always believed in my hitting ability’: Abhishek Sharma

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