Abhishek Sharma repays faith of coach & captain with final blitz

Abhishek Sharma endured a difficult run through much of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, but the left-handed opener rose to the occasion in the final with a blistering 18-ball fifty to help India secure a record third title. Abhishek credited the unwavering backing of head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav for helping him stay confident before delivering on the biggest stage.

Abhishek smashed 52 off just 21 balls to lay the platform for India’s emphatic 96-run victory over New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

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“The one thing was very clear, I wanted to share it before as well, but today is the best day. The captain and coach had faith in me. Even I was doubting myself. I had never experienced this before, it was a tough tournament. I was just doing my process, trying to take it one game after another, but it wasn’t easy. But I love this team because of the way they backed me. It wasn’t easy for me because going through the whole year i was doing well for the team, but in the big tournament I wasn’t able to,” Abhishek said during the post-match celebrations.

“But the faith the team and management showed in me. I got emotional in the middle of the tournament and wanted to talk to the coach and captain and they said you’ll win us the big games. The crowd has supported us a lot even through tough times.”

The opener also revealed that he used a bat belonging to teammate Shivam Dube during his explosive knock, a small change that he felt helped him rediscover his rhythm.

“I batted with Shivam Dube’s bat, so thank you, Dube. In the morning, I felt like trying something different. Shubman (Gill) was not around, so I walked up to Dube and picked his bat,” said Abhishek told reporters later.

Prior to the final, Abhishek had endured a difficult tournament, managing just 89 runs while also dealing with a stomach infection and its aftereffects. However, his match-winning half century, set the tone for India’s third Men’s T20 World Cup title.

Reflecting on his challenging phase over the past month, the opener said the support and belief from his teammates played a crucial role in helping him overcome the slump. “I have been dealing with this phase for the last month after having a dream run for about a year and a half. One thing matters a lot in such situations – the company you keep.

“If the people around you want to help you become better, it makes a big difference. When I was not contributing with the bat, everyone in the team still believed in me. They kept saying, ‘He will do it’. I never doubted my teammates, coaches or the support staff.

“The only question I had was why things were not working for me. I believe the environment around you matters a lot. The people around you should motivate you. Everyone goes through tough phases in life, not just in cricket. At that time, the company you keep becomes very important,” he elaborated.

The faith shown by the team eventually helped Abhishek rediscover his touch in the tournament’s biggest match. “The first thing is to trust yourself, no matter how bad the phase is. When you start doubting yourself, it creates pressure, and you cannot play your natural game.

“That doesn’t help the team either. Self-confidence, hard work and helping others are very important. When you help others, it eventually comes back to you,” he concluded.