In a dazzling display of power-hitting, Abhishek Sharma led India to an emphatic 3-0 lead in the T20I series against New Zealand with a whirlwind 68* off 20 balls in Guwahati. His 14-ball fifty is the second-fastest in Indian T20I history, narrowly behind Yuvraj Singh’s 12-ball half-century in the 2007 World T20.
Chasing 154, Sharma’s dominance, combined with Suryakumar Yadav’s 57 off 26 balls, allowed India to reach the target in just 10 overs, marking one of the fastest successful chases of a 150+ total in T20Is.
Abhishek’s consistency and fearlessness have made him one of the most dangerous T20I openers, with 1,267 runs in 36 matches at an average near 40 and a strike rate of 195.22. New Zealand batter Mark Chapman praised Sharma’s dynamic batting and thoughtfulness behind his explosive shots. India will hope the Punjab left-hander continues his rich form in the upcoming T20 World Cup, beginning February 7 against the USA.
