'If they abuse, You also give it back', Abhishek Sharma recalls Rahul Dravid's message during U-19 World Cup

Abhishek Sharma recently shared what head coach Rahul Dravid told the India team before their U-19 World Cup quarter final against Bangladesh in 2018. Known for his calm demeanor, Dravid surprised everyone by telling the players to go all out in the knockout match.

The 23 year old mentioned that India had previously lost to Bangladesh in the U-19 Asia Cup before the World Cup. Dravid advised the team not to back down if the Bangladeshi players abused them in the quarter final.

Speaking on the YouTube channel Second Innings with Manjot Kalra, Abhishek said:

“We had lost to Bangladesh in the U-19 Asia Cup. When we faced them again in the World Cup, Rahul Dravid told us that if they abuse, you also give it back. Nobody expected him to say something like this. We were all very pumped up for that match.”

India won the 2018 U-19 World Cup quarter final against Bangladesh by 131 runs, successfully defending a 265 run total. Abhishek Sharma scored 50 runs off 49 balls and took two wickets in the match.

The Prithvi Shaw led India U-19 team went on to defeat Pakistan in the semi final and Australia in the final to win the trophy.

Abhishek Sharma’s Stunning Century

Last month, a video of Abhishek Sharma hitting a 25 ball century in a club match in Gurugram went viral. The left handed batter smashed 14 sixes, scoring 103 runs off just 26 balls.

Speaking about the game, he said that he hadn’t brought his kit bag and had to ask someone to bring it after the opposing team set a daunting 250 run target in a 20 over match.

“A lot of people had gathered there once they got to know that we were playing. It was a weekend, so there was a big crowd. They had given us a target of 260. I told my friend that people have gathered, and it doesn’t matter if we win or not, but they should get entertainment. I did not open in that match because I hadn’t even carried my kit bag. So, I called for my kit bag and then went to bat at No. 3 or No. 4.”

Abhishek Sharma’s century helped his team chase down the target with 11 balls to spare and four wickets in hand.