Abhishek Sharma prepared himself “mentally and technically” for months to take on the Australian challenge, and the results showed as the young opener took the Player of the Series award (163 runs in five outings) as India clinched the five-match T20I series 2-1 after the fifth game was abandoned due to rain here on Saturday.

India made a blazing start with openers Abhishek (23 not out off 13 balls) and Shubman Gill (29 not out off 16 balls) going on the offensive.