India completed a dominant 3-0 T20I series sweep against Afghanistan after another outstanding performance from opener Abhishek Sharma in the third match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The left-hander produced one of the fastest centuries in T20I cricket, but it was his celebration after reaching the milestone that attracted plenty of attention. While the gesture appeared similar to Manchester City star Erling Haaland‘s trademark meditation celebration, Abhishek has clarified that his intention was completely different.
Abhishek Sharma breaks Rohit Sharma’s long-standing record
Abhishek delivered a breathtaking display of power hitting as he reached his century in just 30 balls. The knock made him the fastest Indian batter to score a T20I hundred, surpassing Rohit Sharma’s previous record of 35 balls, which the former India captain had achieved against Sri Lanka in 2017.
Abhishek’s hundred came with remarkable efficiency, featuring 10 sixes and nine fours. His assault helped India race to 132 without losing a wicket in only 8.3 overs, putting Afghanistan under immediate pressure. The century was also the Indian opener’s third in T20I cricket, further underlining his growing impact in the shortest format. His explosive innings provided the platform for India to dominate the contest and eventually secure a 127-run victory.
After completing his hundred, Abhishek went down on the field and adopted a meditation pose. The celebration immediately drew comparisons with Haaland’s well-known goal celebration, but the Indian batter explained that it was actually connected to his own experience with meditation.
Abhishek Sharma opens up on viral celebration after stunning hundred
Speaking to broadcasters after the match, Abhishek revealed that meditation had become an important part of his routine over the past six months to a year. The 25-year-old explained that the demands of playing cricket throughout the year can bring several highs and lows, making mental stability particularly important. According to Abhishek, meditation has helped him manage those fluctuations and maintain a more balanced mindset.
“This is something I have been doing for quite some time, six months to a year. I have focused a lot on meditation and manifestation because when you are playing cricket throughout the year, there are a lot of ups and downs as a cricketer,” said Abhishek.
Rather than simply celebrating his personal achievement, the opener wanted to use the moment to highlight something that had helped him away from the cricket field. Abhishek said he hoped the celebration would encourage other cricketers to consider meditation if they were looking for ways to handle pressure and maintain stability.
“So how do you keep your mind stable in that? I think meditation really helped me a lot, and I just wanted that if someone sees it, if any cricketer feels that it actually really helped me from the last six to eight months. So that was the specific celebration for that, that this is something which is keeping me stable,” added Abhishek.
For latest cricket news & updates, visit CricketTimes.com.
