Abhishek Sharma credits Yuvraj Singh's text after 30-ball T20I century in New Delhi

Abhishek Sharma scored 108 off 34 balls as India beat Afghanistan by 127 runs in the third T20I in New Delhi on September 17, 2026, completing a 3-0 series sweep. After the match he revealed a text from mentor Yuvraj Singh that, he said, shaped his approach in the finale.

Abhishek told broadcasters the message arrived before the series decider and warned him not to force every ball. “And in the last match, I only got a text from him that I shouldn’t be forcing all the balls. Specifically in these conditions, if I just take one or two singles in between, it’s not in my you know, the slot. I can take a single as well,” Abhishek said. “But obviously, sir always wants me to play long, and I always have it in my mind that if I give the team such a start, obviously, when we are on the winning side, that is always in my mind,” he added.

Abhishek had set the tone earlier in the series with 82 off 32 in the opening T20I and 39 in the second match before delivering the biggest statement in the finale. He entered the Afghanistan series under pressure after seven innings without a fifty, including four single-digit scores, and was contesting the top-of-the-order slot with Sanju Samson and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

The century came in 30 balls, breaking Rohit Sharma’s record for the fastest T20I hundred by an Indian, and it was Abhishek’s third T20I hundred and his second century in fewer than 40 balls. Across the three matches he amassed 229 runs to finish as the leading scorer of the series.

His innings in Delhi was composed of nine fours and 11 sixes as he attacked from the first over, targeted Afghanistan’s pace options and even prepared to take on Rashid Khan during the powerplay before reaching his hundred off Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

The campaign also included signs of improvement against spin, with Abhishek’s willingness to attack Rashid and other Afghan spinners cited in the coverage as evidence of expanded range. The team narrative around his batting combined his natural aggression with the reminder from Yuvraj that selective singles can be valuable.

With India scheduled to head to the Asian Games next, Abhishek arrives at that tournament on the back of 229 runs from his last three T20Is and what the report described as plenty of momentum.