Recently-crowned no.1 T20I batter in ICC rankings, Ishan Kishan was run out for a two-ball duck in the series opener against England on July 1. Kishan got run out after a mix-up with Abhishek Sharma for the second consecutive time. Against England, he wanted a quick single but Abhishek sent him back. Harry Brook couldn't pull off a direct hit but it was enough for Jos Buttler to take off the bails despite Kishan's full-length dive. As the decision was referred to the third umpire, Kishan and Abhishek had a conversation. Abhishek was frustrated as the ball was near Brook and Kishan called for the run anyway. On the other hand, Kishan said that that it was his call.
Kishan may lose his top spot in the rankings after getting run out without adding a run to the scoreboard. Meanwhile, Abhishek shared a crucial stand with skipper Shreyas Iyer after Kishan and Sanju Samson were dismissed cheaply in Durham.Â
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Abhishek went on to score his 11th T20I half-century. He scored 59 runs from just 24 balls, featuring six fours and four sixes. Later, Iyer's 47-ball 68, his first as T20I captain and Shivam Dube's unbeaten 21-ball 42 steered India to 189/7. England's run chase couldn't start as rain played spoilsport at Riverside Ground, Chester-Le-Street and the game was abandoned.
Abhishek breaks WI opener’s record, achieves other milestones
Meanwhile, Abhishek became the fastest to 100 T20I sixes in terms of balls faced. He broke West Indies opener Evin Lewis' record. Lewis had achieved the feat from 789 balls. Abhishek took four fewer deliveries to reach the milestone. Now, he has 102 sixes from 49 T20Is.
Abhishek also completed 1,500 runs in T20I cricket. He became the ninth Indian batter to achieve the feat in the format. He is now the seventh-highest run-scorer in India-England T20I encounters over the years. From seven T20Is against England, he has scored 347 runs at an average of 49.57 and strike rate of 219.62. He has a century and two fifties against them.
Abhishek will have a chance to move up in the ladder as India take on England in the second T20I of the five-T20I series on July 4 at The Old Trafford, Manchester.