“We’ve seen Gayle, Finch, and De Villiers dominate and now Abhishek Sharma is…”: Brendon McCullum gives special compliment to Team India’s opener

England head coach Brendon McCullum was left stunned by Abhishek Sharma’s breathtaking century in the Wankhede T20I on February 2, calling it one of the finest knocks in T20I history. The 24-year-old’s blistering innings powered India to a dominant 150-run victory over England, making him the focal point of admiration—even in the opposition camp.

Abhishek dazzled under the Wankhede lights, smashing 135 off just 54 balls, bringing up his maiden T20I century in just 37 deliveries. His fearless strokeplay dismantled England’s formidable pace attack, including Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, helping India post a mammoth 248-run target. England, unable to handle the pressure, crumbled for just 97 runs.

Brendon McCullum was full of praise for Abhishek Sharma’s sensational knock, calling it one of the finest innings ever witnessed in T20 cricket. “What we saw from Abhishek was truly special. It wasn’t just about the runs he did it against a bowling attack featuring four 90mph pacers and a top-class leg-spinner,” McCullum remarked.

He further acknowledged Abhishek’s unstoppable form on the day. “When a player walks in and delivers a performance like that, sometimes no strategy is enough to contain them. You can try different plans, but when someone is striking the ball that cleanly, there’s little you can do. Over the years, we’ve seen players like Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch, and AB de Villiers dominate in this format, and perhaps Abhishek Sharma is now making a strong case to be counted among them,” he added.

McCullum, renowned for his aggressive ‘Bazball’ philosophy, admitted England had no response to Abhishek’s relentless assault, lauding his ability to dominate even elite fast bowlers.

Abhishek’s innings was a masterclass in adaptability. He stormed to a half-century in just 17 balls and continued his rampage, reaching three figures in another 20 deliveries. Unlike his usual one-paced approach, he displayed remarkable game awareness, shifting gears at crucial moments to maximize India’s scoring opportunities.

Beyond his batting heroics, Abhishek also delivered with the ball, returning figures of 2/3. Partnering with Mohammed Shami (3/25), he played a key role in dismantling England’s much-hyped attacking approach.

With this emphatic victory, India sealed the T20I series 4-1, sending a powerful statement ahead of their upcoming international fixtures.

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