NZ vs IND: Abhishek Sharma’s 113 Powers India to Record-Breaking Chase as Diwali Arrives Early

Abhishek Sharma’s 113-Run Blitz Powers India to Series-Sealing Win Over New Zealand

Diwali celebrations arrived early in Wellington as India delivered a breathtaking batting performance to defeat New Zealand by chasing down a target of 199 in just 13.2 overs on Tuesday. Abhishek Sharma led the charge with a stunning 38-ball 113, while teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided explosive support with 45 runs off only 19 deliveries. The emphatic victory gave India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.

The third T20I had generated considerable interest because of the strong winds sweeping across Wellington. India’s players had experienced difficulties during fielding practice on the eve of the match, struggling to keep their caps and hats in place. However, the weather proved to be no match for the storm unleashed by India’s opening batters during the chase.

India raced to 50 in just 2.2 overs and reached the 100-run mark within five overs. By the end of the powerplay, the visitors had amassed a remarkable 118 runs, setting a new world record for the highest score in the first six overs of a men’s T20 International.

Abhishek Sharma Leads the Onslaught
Abhishek produced another extraordinary innings, registering his fourth T20I century and dismantling New Zealand’s bowling attack with remarkable ease. The Indian opener went after Jacob Duffy, Adam Milne and Kyle Jamieson from the beginning, leaving the hosts struggling to contain the scoring rate.

Promoted to open alongside Abhishek, 19-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi matched his partner’s attacking approach. Replacing Sanju Samson at the top of the order, the youngster smashed 45 off 19 balls, helping India establish complete control over the chase.

Abhishek reached his century in just 35 deliveries, narrowly missing his personal record for the fastest T20I hundred. He finished with 11 sixes and nine fours, delivering a spectacular display of power-hitting that thrilled the Wellington crowd despite the cold and blustery conditions.

His latest performance further strengthened his reputation as one of India’s most destructive T20 batters. Abhishek has now registered nine T20I half-centuries in fewer than 20 balls, the most by any batter. He also has two centuries in fewer than 35 deliveries, including a 30-ball hundred against Afghanistan in Delhi earlier this year.

Yuvraj Singh Reacts to Abhishek’s Explosive Knock
Abhishek also came close to challenging his mentor Yuvraj Singh’s record for the fastest T20I fifty by an Indian batter. However, he fell three balls short of Yuvraj’s 12-ball milestone, prompting a playful reaction from the former India all-rounder on Instagram.

Abhishek acknowledged that reaching the milestone was far from easy, explaining that such extraordinary scoring bursts happen only occasionally and are not necessarily a batter’s primary objective.

Yuvraj later praised Abhishek’s performance on X, humorously pointing out that he himself could not score a hundred in 30 or 34 balls. He congratulated the young opener and also applauded Sooryavanshi for his aggressive contribution.

Yuvraj further praised Samson for accepting the move to No. 3 in the batting order in the interests of the team. The decision to send Sooryavanshi out to open alongside Abhishek proved decisive, as the pair stitched together a remarkable 133-run partnership off just 43 balls.

India experienced a brief slowdown after Abhishek’s dismissal in the 10th over. With only 21 runs required, Samson and Shreyas Iyer found it difficult to maintain the extraordinary tempo established by the openers. Nevertheless, India comfortably completed the chase with 40 balls remaining.

Daryl Mitchell’s Unbeaten 89 Gives New Zealand a Competitive Total
Earlier, New Zealand posted 198 for three after being asked to bat, with Daryl Mitchell producing an impressive unbeaten 89 off 52 deliveries. Despite his efforts, the hosts could not build a total capable of withstanding India’s extraordinary response.

India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl. Arshdeep Singh justified the decision early by dismissing Tim Seifert, who lost his wicket while attempting an aggressive shot.

New Zealand recovered through Finn Allen and Mitchell, who combined for an 86-run partnership for the second wicket. Allen contributed 40 off 25 balls before Nitish Kumar Reddy brought his innings to an end.

Mitchell then took charge of the innings, balancing calculated strokeplay with powerful boundary-hitting. With support from Bevon Jacobs, who remained unbeaten on 39 off 23 balls, he ensured that New Zealand maintained a healthy scoring rate through the middle and final overs.

Mitchell’s unbeaten 89 was his highest score in T20I cricket, while Jacobs supplied valuable late acceleration to help the hosts approach the 200-run mark.

India’s bowlers, however, delivered a disciplined performance towards the end, restricting New Zealand to 52 runs in the final five overs. Arshdeep finished with figures of one for 33 from his four overs.

India Eye a Clean Sweep
Despite New Zealand’s competitive total, the visitors’ explosive opening partnership turned the contest into a one-sided affair. Abhishek and Sooryavanshi’s assault ensured that India secured the series with two matches still to play.

The teams will meet again in the fourth T20I in Auckland on Friday, with India looking to maintain their momentum and complete a clean sweep of the five-match series.