The international cricket scene has seen many young, talented players put up outstanding performances. Abhishek Sharma, one of the young players now stealing the show, had one of the best Twenty20 International series against England, scoring his second T20I century in the process.

With a strike rate of 193.85, Abhishek Sharma has amassed 535 runs at an average of 33.44 in his 17 Twenty20 Internationals thus far for India. He is currently the team’s favourite opening batsman in the game’s shortest format as well. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, two young players who are also making an impression in international cricket, are beside Abhishek. Abhishek also had a clever response when questioned about the competition between Gill and Jaiswal.

Yesterday [at the BCCI awards], I had the opportunity to meet Shubman and Jassu [Jaiswal]. Since we started playing together as Under-16s, there has never been a competition between us. To represent India was the only dream. Now that we’re all playing together, there’s no finer feeling,” Abhishek said.

Abhishek Sharma In Wankhede, on his amazing century

In just 54 deliveries, Abhishek Sharma hit 135 runs in the fifth Twenty20 International at the Wankhede, the greatest individual score for an Indian batter in T20Is. He also went on to achieve the second-fastest century by an Indian batter. The Southpaw talked about his knock and a discussion he had with Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of the T20I team.

I knew exactly how I was going to respond to the ball. My score was unknown to me. What are your thoughts, Surya [Suryakumar] paaji? I just asked him. He said, “You can take a couple of balls and take your time, since a wicket has fallen.” It was thanks to him that I was able to achieve my highest score and, I would say, the hundred. I didn’t understand at the moment that I was going to achieve the quickest hundred [second-fastest for India],” Abhishek told the crowd.