India's next generation of cricketers bounced back from an early setback in the five-match T20 series in Zimbabwe, registering a 100-run win to level the contest in Harare on Sunday.
The second string Indian team were handed a jolt on Saturday as the hosts successfully defended 115, dampening the mood in the Indian camp still basking in the success of the senior team's T20 World Cup title success.
India needed to respond quickly within 24 hours and it was Abhishek Sharma who led the way with a record-breaking century in just his second match.
After getting out for a four-ball duck on debut, Abhishek turned his game around as he smashed eight sixes and seven fours en route to 100 off just 47 balls.
Abhishek's century laid the foundation of a massive total of 234-2, which was well beyond the reach of Zimbabwe, who were bowled out for 134. Ruturaj Gaikwad (77 off 47), Rinku Singh (48 from 22), Avesh Khan (3-15) and Ravi Bishnoi (2-11) all made telling contributions in India's victory.
The star of the day, however, was Abhishek who broke a number of records.
Records tumble in Harare
Abhishek took just 46 balls to reach three figures, despite starting fairly slowly on a tough surface and surviving a dropped chance on 27. It was the joint third fastest T20 century by an Indian batsman behind Rohit Sharma (35 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (45 balls).
Abhishek opened his account, reached his fifty and century by hitting a six. In fact, he reached his century by hitting three consecutive sixes – the first Indian to do so in any format.
Abhishek continued the form he had shown for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League and which had pushed him into the limelight earlier in the year. His breathtaking striking in the IPL had made him an outside chance for a spot in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup, but he missed the cut.
In the IPL, Abhishek formed a lethal opening partnership with Travis Head, taking Hyderabad all the way to the final where they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders.
In the tournament, Abhishek accumulated 484 runs from 16 innings at a strike rate of over 200, smashing 36 fours and 42 sixes. He replicated that form on the international stage as well, hitting more sixes than fours in his maiden T20 ton.
Is Abhishek Sharma the next batting star?
The left-handed batsman is seen as the best ball-striker in Indian cricket. And that takes some doing. Mentored by World Cup winner Yuvraj Singh, Abhishek has transformed into a six-hitting machine after stumbling around as a spin bowling all-rounder.
Now that Rohit and Virat Kohli have both retired from T20 Internationals, two spots have opened up at the top of the order and India's team management will back Abhishek to start the innings with another destructive left-handed opener – Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Abhishek is also a handy left-arm spinner, which is a huge plus as recent Indian white-ball teams had almost no player in the top six who could also bowl. Jaiswal bowls leg spin as well, which should make their spots in the team almost guaranteed going forward.
India are in a transition phase with preparations underway for the 2026 T20 World Cup which will be held in India and Sri Lanka. With a century in his second match – on a difficult pitch and after losing the series opener – Abhishek has provided a glimpse into the future of Indian cricket.
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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EXPATS
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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The years Ramadan fell in May
England World Cup squad
Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
More coverage from the Future Forum
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Volvo ES90 Specs
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Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
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