Abhishek Sharma turned India’s run chase into a record-breaking show, smashing a century that left New Zealand with little chance of defending their total. His explosive batting not only helped India win the third T20I but also rewrote several records in the shortest format of the game.
India faced New Zealand in the third match of the five-match T20I series on Tuesday at Hagley Oval in Wellington. Chasing a target of 199 runs, India secured a comfortable six-wicket victory, reaching the target in just 13.2 overs. Abhishek Sharma opened the innings alongside 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and their aggressive start helped India take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.
During the match, Abhishek broke several batting records, while Arshdeep Singh also achieved a significant milestone with the ball.
Here is a look at the major records set during the third India-New Zealand T20I.
1. India Equals the Record for the Fastest Team Fifty:
Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gave India a flying start, taking the team’s score past 50 runs in just 2.2 overs. India equalled the record for the fastest team fifty in T20 internationals, putting the New Zealand bowlers under immediate pressure.
2. India Sets a New Record for the Fastest Team 100:
The Indian openers continued their attack and took the team’s total past 100 runs in just five overs. With this, India broke the record for the fastest team century in T20 internationals, completing the milestone in a remarkably short time.
3. India Records the Highest Power-Play Score in T20Is:
India scored 118 runs in the first six overs, setting a new record for the highest power-play total by any team in a T20 international. The opening partnership between Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was instrumental in this achievement. The pair added 135 runs for the first wicket in just 7.1 overs, giving India complete control of the chase.
4. Abhishek Becomes the First Player to Score Multiple 15-Ball T20I Fifties:
Abhishek Sharma needed only 15 balls to complete his half-century against New Zealand. With this achievement, he became the first and only player in the world to score multiple fifties in T20 internationals in 15 balls or fewer.
5. Abhishek Smashes the Fastest International Century Against New Zealand:
Abhishek Sharma reached his century in just 35 balls, setting a new record for the fastest century against New Zealand in international cricket. The previous record was held by Ishan Kishan, who had scored a 42-ball century in a T20 international. Abhishek’s 35-ball hundred is also the joint-second-fastest century by an Indian batter in T20 internationals.
6. Abhishek Sharma Moves Ahead of Virat Kohli in Overall T20 Centuries:
Abhishek now has 11 centuries in T20 cricket, the most by an Indian player in the format. Virat Kohli follows him with 10 T20 hundreds.
7. Abhishek Scores His Fourth T20I Century for India:
The century against New Zealand was Abhishek’s fourth in T20 internationals for India. Only Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell have scored more centuries in T20 internationals, placing Abhishek among the format’s most prolific century-makers.
8. Abhishek Sharma Achieves a Rare Six-Hitting Feat:
Abhishek has now hit at least 10 sixes in a single T20 international innings on three occasions. No other player representing a Test-playing nation has achieved this feat three times. Chris Gayle and Aaron Finch managed to hit 10 or more sixes in a T20I innings twice each during their careers.
Arshdeep Singh Matches a Major T20I Bowling Record:
While Abhishek dominated with the bat, Arshdeep Singh also reached an important milestone. He took one wicket for 33 runs against New Zealand, dismissing Tim Seifert in the very first over of the match. That wicket took Arshdeep’s tally to 39 T20I wickets in 2026. He is now joint-highest among players from Test-playing nations for the most T20I wickets in a single calendar year, alongside Ireland’s Josh Little.
India’s third T20I victory was therefore about much more than securing the series. Abhishek Sharma’s extraordinary batting rewrote multiple records, while Arshdeep Singh’s consistency added another milestone to India’s memorable performance against New Zealand.
What a performance by Abhishek Sharma!
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