Indian opening batter Abhishek Sharma stormed out on Tuesday (27 October) during the third game of the five-match T20I series against the hosts New Zealand at Wellington. His stormy century helped India to chase down the 199-run target inside just 14 overs, as Abhishek put his name in some record books.
Trailing by 2-0, it was a must-win game for New Zealand to stay in the series-victory battle, while a win would secure India’s T20I series victory. After India chose to field first, New Zealand scored 198/3 in 20 overs, where Daryl Mitchell scored 89 not out off 52 balls with five fours and five sixes.
In reply, India scored 118/0 at the end of the powerplay and chased the big target in just 13.2 overs after losing three wickets. Abhishek scored 113 off just 38 balls with nine fours and 11 sixes, while the teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi slammed 45 off 19 balls with four fours and four sixes. With this victory, India have secured the series with a 3-0 lead, while two matches are yet to be played.
Record T20I powerplay total
India scored 118/0 at the end of the powerplay.
It was the new highest total in a T20I powerplay. The previous record was 116/0 in just 5.4 overs by Romania against Serbia in 2021.
As per the ESPNcricinfo database, it was the second-highest total in a T20 powerplay. The record is 125/0 by SunRisers Hyderabad against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024.
Abhishek Sharma: 15-ball half-century; 35-ball hundred; 4th T20I century, 11th T20 century
Abhishek Sharma completed his half-century in 15 balls.
Abhishek recorded his second-fastest T20I fifty. His fastest T20I fifty record is a 14-ball fifty against New Zealand at Guwahati on 25 January 2026.
Abhishek recorded the joint third-fastest T20I half-century in Indian cricket history.
Fastest T20I half-centuries by Indian
Player | Balls Faced | Opposition | Venue | Year |
Yuvraj Singh | 12 | England | Durban | 2007 |
Abhishek Sharma | 14 | New Zealand | Guwahati | 2026 |
Shivam Dube | 15 | New Zealand | Visakhapatnam | 2026 |
Abhishek Sharma | 15 | New Zealand | Wellington | 2026 |
Abhishek Sharma completed his century in 35 balls.
Abhishek slammed India’s joint second-fastest T20I century.
Fastest T20I centuries by Indian
Player | Balls Faced | Opposition | Venue | Year |
Abhishek Sharma | 30 | Afghanistan | Delhi | 2026 |
Rohit Sharma | 35 | Sri Lanka | Indore | 2017 |
Abhishek Sharma | 35 | New Zealand | Visakhapatnam | 2026 |
Abhishek Sharma scored his fourth T20I century.
Abhishek became the third Indian to hit at least four T20I centuries. The other two Indians are Rohit Sharma (5 centuries) and Suryakumar Yadav (4 centuries).
Abhishek became the sixth overall batter to hit at least four T20I hundreds.
Most T20I centuries
Player (Team) | Number of centuries |
Glenn Maxwell (Australia) | 5 |
Rohit Sharma (India) | 5 |
Phil Salt (England) | 4 |
Suryakumar Yadav (India) | 4 |
Karanbir Singh (Austria) | 4 |
Abhishek Sharma (India) | 4 |
Abhishek Sharma completed his 11th T20 century.
Breaking Virat Kohli’s record of 10 T20 centuries, Abhishek set a new record for the most T20 hundreds by an Indian.
Abhishek has recorded the third-most T20 centuries. The top two players in this list are Chris Gayle with 22 centuries and Babar Azam with 13 centuries.
Abhishek Sharma scored 113 runs.
Abhishek scored the second-highest T20I score for India against New Zealand. The record is 126 not out by Shubman Gill at Ahmedabad in 2023.
Abhishek recorded the third-highest T20I score by any batter against New Zealand. The top two records in this list are 126 not out by Shubman Gill from India (2023 Ahmedabad) and 117 not out by Richard Levi from South Africa (2012 Hamilton).
India chased 199-run target before 14 overs
India chased down the 199-run target in just 13.2 overs.
It was the second-fastest 190+ target chase in T20 history. The record is a 192-run target chase in just 13 overs by Estonia against Cyprus in 2024.