Team India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph over New Zealand in the Ahmedabad final was scripted with drama, none more so than opener Abhishek Sharma’s revelation about using Shivam Dubey’s bat for his record-breaking knock. The 52 off 21 balls, featuring the fastest fifty in 18 deliveries, turned the game on its head and handed India the title.
Sharma entered the final under a cloud. A prolific phase of dream knocks ended abruptly with a month-long drought, including three golden ducks. His Zimbabwe fifty was a flicker, quickly extinguished. Pressure mounted, but finals bring out the best.
Post-victory chats with media unveiled the bat mystery. ‘Grateful to Shivam Dubey – I used his bat! Felt like experimenting today. Shubman was away, so I took it,’ Sharma laughed.
Delving deeper into his mindset, he said, ‘Rough patches test you, especially after 1.5 years of success. But the team’s belief was my anchor. ‘He’ll deliver,’ they’d say. Never questioned the coach or boys; that solidarity fueled my fire.’
This serendipitous switch gave India a blistering powerplay, building a formidable score. Beyond stats, Sharma’s tale highlights cricket’s superstitious side and unbreakable team bonds, culminating in joyous scenes as India reclaimed glory.