'Rome Wasnt Built in a Day': Yuvraj Singh Shares Abhishek Sharma's Inspirational Journey Leading to Maiden Ton | WATCH

Abhishek Sharma endured a 4-ball duck on his international debut in the T20I series opener against Zimbabwe on Saturday. But the youngster bounced back the following day and repaid selectors’ faith with a blistering maiden hundred, helping India thrash the hosts by 100 runs and level the series 1-1.

As the 23-year-old made his mentor proud in his debut series for India, former India all-rounder Yuvraj shared an inspiring video on X, formerly known as Twitter. The video showcased how Abhishek has been toiling hard off the field to make his place in the Indian dressing room.

Documenting Abhishek’s incredible journey, Yuvraj wrote, “Rome wasn’t built in a day! Congratulations @IamAbhiSharma4 on the journey to your first International 100! Many more to come #AbhishekSharma #INDvsZIM.”

Abhishek smashed the third-fastest T20I hundred.

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Playing with the borrowed bat of his captain Shubman Gill, Abhishek smashed 100 off 47 balls which helped India post 234-2 in 20 overs. The youngster batted at a strike rate of 212.77 and reached the triple figures off just 46 balls. He was also named the Player of the Match for smashing India’s third-fastest T20I hundred.

‘Mentor Yuvraj is quite happy’

Abhishek revealed that his mentor Yuvraj Singh was delighted when he got out for a duck on his T20I debut against Zimbabwe as the swashbuckling former all-rounder, for reasons best known to him, felt it was a ‘good start’.

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“I spoke to him yesterday (Saturday) also, and I don’t know why he was very happy when I got out on zero. He said that’s a good start but he must be very happy and proud just like my family,” Abhishek said in a video posted by BCCI.

He credited the hero of India’s 2011 World Cup triumph for not only helping him hone is skills on the cricket field but also supporting him in his life away from the field.

“It’s all because of him as well, the hard work he has put in (shaping) me. (For) two-three years, he has worked really hard not only on my cricket but off the field (life) as well,” he added