Former India batter Ajinkya Rahane heaped praise on opener Abhishek Sharma following his historic knock against Afghanistan in the third T20I. As a result of his terrific innings, India outplayed Afghanistan by 127 runs in the final match to complete a clean sweep of the three-match T20I series. The Indian opener smashed 108 off 34 balls in the game while racing to the fastest century in the format by a player from a Test-playing nation. Abhishek reached the mark in just 30 balls. His knock included nine fours and 11 sixes.
Rahane Commends Abhishek’s Growth After Series Performance
Ajinkya Rahane has praised Abhishek’s performance in the recent three-match series against India, highlighting his personal growth rather than the need to prove himself to others. In a statement on his YouTube channel, Rahane said, ‘As much as I know Abhishek, I don’t think he would be looking to prove anything to anyone. I think he probably wanted to prove to himself how he can get better.’
Rahane characterized Abhishek as a ‘bindaas character’ who brings a similar energy to the field as he does off it. He acknowledged that in sports, external opinions will always exist, stating, ‘This will happen in the sport. People will talk if you do well or don’t do well.’ Rahane emphasized that Abhishek is a mature player who understands that outside noise is a constant in his career.
Looking ahead, the Shreyas Iyer-led Indian team is set to compete in a one-off T20I against Japan on September 22, before commencing its Asian Games 2026 campaign from the quarterfinals.
