"Even if at times he mistimes it, it will still go for six" - Ravi Shastri lauds Abhishek Sharma's century in NZ vs IND 2026 3rd T20I

Former India player Ravi Shastri had lauded Abhishek Sharma for scoring a swashbuckling century in the third T20I against New Zealand. The analyst pointed out that the left-handed opener has worked on his leg-side game, highlighting that even his mistimed shots go for sixes when the square boundaries are short.

New Zealand posted 198/3 after being asked to bat first in Wellington on Tuesday, October 27. Abhishek smashed 113 runs off 38 balls in the chase as the visitors achieved the target with six wickets and 40 balls to spare.

During a discussion on Sony Sports, Shastri noted that Abhishek was able to hit big shots on the leg side when the bowlers didn't give him room to play on the off side.

"A fabulous innings. You mentioned about being tucked up. The fact that he clears the front leg of his and he has got such a good swing, if the bowler misses by a wee bit of a margin, he will flick you," the former India all-rounder said.

"He has got good wrists. If the square boundaries are on a shorter side, even if at times he mistimes it, it will still go for six. Very dangerous player, and he has worked on his game, obviously, because a lot of sides started doing it to him," he added.

Shastri opined that the New Zealand bowlers should have bowled more yorkers to Abhishek and Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

"If there is one area New Zealand have to work on in the final two games is they have got to start bowling yorkers. Much more yorkers at this opening pair. They have not bowled enough. India did that today (Tuesday). They bowled to the dimensions of the ground and kept that scoring rate down," he observed.

Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Suryavanshi stitched together a 133-run opening partnership in just 7.1 overs. The latter contributed 45 runs off 19 balls.

"Just didn't spare any loose delivery" - Ravi Shastri on Abhishek Sharma's knock in NZ vs IND 2026 3rd T20I

In the same discussion, Ravi Shastri was asked about Abhishek Sharma smashing the first ball he faced for a six.

"I mean, to play that shot, the first ball of the innings for six, he announces himself. His off-side play, we have said it time and again, is fabulous to watch. Just didn't spare any loose delivery. It was as if he was playing the field and the dimensions of the ground. A magnificent innings," he responded.

Abhishek Sharma struck nine fours and 11 sixes during his 113-run knock. He was eventually caught at deep midwicket while trying to hit another maximum off Kyle Jamieson's bowling.

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