In the heart of Mumbai, the city of dreams, Abhishek Sharma delivered a performance that turned England’s evening into a nightmare. The young all-rounder sparkled with the bat, unleashing a blistering 135 off just 54 balls, a display of both power and grace. But his brilliance didn’t end there as he returned to the field with the ball, claiming two wickets in the solitary over he bowled, completing an unforgettable all-round display.
India surged to an imposing total of 247, and England, in response, were left reeling. The visitors crumbled to a mere 97, enduring a crushing 150-run defeat in the final T20I. It was a one-sided spectacle, a fitting reflection of India’s complete dominance in the series, which they wrapped up with a 4-1 scoreline. England never quite found their footing with the bat, stumbling from the moment Phil Salt departed, as the Men in Blue swept the game away with ease.
It was one of those magical nights for Abhishek, where everything he touched turned to gold. What stood out in his innings was not reckless slogging, but the sheer elegance with which he played his shots. His balance, precise footwork and clean stroke-making were the hallmarks of his knock. Even during the quieter middle overs, when he was away from the strike, he remained unfazed. England’s pacers kept testing him, but he dispatched them with authority. The spinners fared no better, conceding 70 runs in just five overs.
Scoring 247 in a T20 match is a rarity, yet there was a sense that India could have posted an even bigger total. There was a phase when only two overs produced double-digit runs, largely due to England’s tactical effort to keep Abhishek off strike. The visitors managed to regain some control after the drinks break, with Brydon Carse picking up three quick wickets. Abhishek was deprived of the strike during this period, slowing India’s charge. Though Shivam Dube’s brisk 30 provided a late boost, wickets continued to tumble at the other end.
Sanju Samson’s struggles against the short ball continued as he fell to it for the fifth consecutive time in the series. However, that was England’s only breakthrough in the Powerplay. After that, Abhishek took complete control, launching a blistering assault on the bowlers. He raced to a 17-ball fifty, making him the second-fastest Indian to achieve the milestone, and then stormed to a century in just 37 balls — the second-fastest T20I hundred in matches between full-member nations. Even in the death overs, he provided the finishing touches before eventually departing.
Tilak Varma chipped in with a quickfire 24 off 15 balls, while Abhishek continued his fireworks from the other end. India dominated the first half of the innings, amassing 143 runs for the loss of just two wickets. With Abhishek at the crease, England faced the daunting prospect of conceding well over 270, with even a 300-run total looking possible at one stage. However, the visitors managed to claw things back in the latter stages of the innings.
England’s chase, apart from a quick fifty from Salt, never really took off. In fact, they suffered yet another collapse. Spin proved to be their undoing, a recurring theme throughout the series. Abhishek, Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi shared five wickets between them, while Mohammed Shami delivered a stellar performance, claiming three scalps. Dube also made an impact at his home ground, striking twice in the middle overs to ensure England had no way back into the game.