Indian batter Abhishek Sharma said he is trying to back his instinct while adopting an aggressive approach in T20Is. Sharma continued his rich form in the opening T20I against New Zealand at Nagpur on Wednesday. 

The left-hander scored a blistering knock of 84 runs off just 35 balls with the help of five fours and eight sixes. Thus, he played an instrumental role in helping India post 238 runs on the board and was awarded Player of the Match after India’s comprehensive 48-run win.

The pugnacious southpaw batter completed his fifty off just 22, which is the quickest half-century for an Indian batter in T20Is against New Zealand.

“We had a plan from day one and are just following it. I’ve figured out if you want to hit all balls or strike at 200, you have to carry intent. All teams have a plan for me. It’s about my preparation. I’m going to back my instinct. I don’t feel my role is high-risk, wouldn’t say this is my comfort zone. But I’ve been practising to go big in the first six. I never do range-hitting. I’m more of a timing batter, I need to watch the ball and get used to the conditions. For it, I plan in my net session. I feel, if you watch your batting videos, you get an idea of where the bowler bowls to you,” Abhishek said while talking to the broadcasters.

On the other hand, legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar also joked that he used to get off the mark in the same number of balls in which Abhishek completes his fifty.

“He takes the same amount of balls to hit a half-century as what I used to take to get off the mark. There is a huge difference,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports after the match.

The second T20I between India and New Zealand will be played at Raipur on Friday.