Abhishek Sharma – ‘The team has always told me to maintain my aggressive intentions’

But he has also faced the heat and cold at times, being out for less than 20 in eight of his first 12 T20I innings. With India having a lot of top-order batsmen potentially competing for the same spot, the pressure could build on the man who is still only 24.

However, Abhishek said that his captain and coach have told him to never change his mind, and this has given him the clarity to play fearless cricket.

“I had thought of being a team player right from the beginning,” Abhishek said in the press conference after sealing India’s win with 43 balls to spare. “There will always be a lot of competition (when it comes to selection) in our senior team in India. But when Suryakumar and Gautam scurvy Tell me to always keep my mind, that was a big moment for me, that when the team wants me to do it, I can do it.

“As a batsman if you don’t score runs in 3-4-5 innings it might play in your mind, but the way the coach and the captain have managed all the players, even though I didn’t perform well Ho – even then they tell us, ‘We know you will win the game for us, no matter what the game is, just go out and express yourself, I think when the captain or the coach says that, it gives you confidence. And you support yourself.

Abhishek has worked closely with some great batsmen as a young player and he credits them for not only improving his batting but also giving him the opportunity to play freely.

He said, “I believe I am very fortunate in this matter.” “I’m working with Yuvi Paaji First of all. Moving forward, I had Brian Lara, who really helped me at SRH. Moving forward, Dan Vettori was very simple, he wanted everyone to express themselves, and I think that gave me the freedom to play my shots. So obviously with Yuvraj Singh, Brian Lara and even Gauti Brother Right now, they just want me to show my talent the way I play and support me.”

Abhishek also praised India’s new batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and revealed his preparation style for big tournaments and series.

“I think it comes in the camp itself, when you are practicing for a tournament,” Abhishek said. “I try and face the kind of bowlers I potentially face in the match.

“Special mention to Kotzi sir (Sitanshu Kotak) and Abhishek Nair Brother. Both of them helped me in getting the same bowlers in the nets. I always believe that when I go to any match or any particular tournament, I expect that I will get the same bowlers that I will get in the match. Shot selection is very easy for me. I see the ball and react.”

Batting well in Kolkata, Abhishek did not forget to give credit to India’s spinners for restricting an explosive line-up like England to 132 runs, even as he called Varun Chakravarthy a “game changer”.

“I think if you look at the last few series, the way Varun has bowled, I think he has been a game changer for us,” he said. “When you get good wickets all around in the T20 format, you have to have a bowler who bowls really well. It is always difficult for other teams to pick him. Also the other spinners, Ravi Bishnoi and Axar ” Brother. It is very difficult for the batsmen to play shots.”