Abhishek Sharma's patient innings steers India to 14-run win in third T20I

Abhishek Sharma struck a 69-run knock as India beat the West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20I in Indore on Sunday. He began cautiously before accelerating into a match-defining innings.

As Abhishek readied himself to face the press, attention was drawn to the glitter of his jewellery, but his strokeplay proved the greater spectacle in the 14-run victory. The 26-year-old opted to start in first gear rather than attack from the outset, conscious that Roston Chase had troubled him in the previous two duels. Against the off-spinner and speedster Shamar Joseph in the opening part of the PowerPlay he played the ball along the ground, a calm phase that preceded a surge which the Windies could not withstand before the 10th over.

On his approach to the innings, Abhishek said: “It (hitting mostly on the off-side) was not a deliberate plan. But I knew that they had a plan for me, so I had to play better than that. With the off-spinner bowling the first over, it was a battle between him and me. I gave him respect in the first over because he has been bowling really well in this series. My plan went really well.”

Abhishek described his preparation in similar terms: “Preparation is really important if I want to continue playing like this and utilise the PowerPlay. It depends on the team and the bowlers I am going to face,” he said. “I want to execute my plan really well and dominate as well. As an attacking batter, I have to be ready for all plans when facing world-class bowlers. I make myself uncomfortable in practice so that I am not surprised in a match,” he added.

The Windies moved into damage-limitation mode as Abhishek accelerated, and he raced to his 14th T20I half-century off just 18 deliveries. “He is a world-class player... kudos to him. We tried to be as defensive as possible and make him get singles and doubles rather than boundaries. It was a matter of trying to pull him back,” Shamar Springer admitted after being at the receiving end.

After all, for India, Abhishek is the gift that keeps on giving.