Abhishek Sharma's 113 off 38 seals T20I series; BCCI's Shukla lost for words
Synopsis
Abhishek Sharma's 113 off just 38 balls — his 11th T20 hundred — didn't just win India the series against New Zealand 3-0. It took him past Virat Kohli's record of 10 T20 centuries to become India's greatest centurion in the format, and into third place globally. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla said the knock left him 'searching for words.'
Key Takeaways
Abhishek Sharma smashed 113 off 38 balls in the 3rd T20I at Wellington on 27 October 2026 .
India chased 199 in just 13.2 overs , winning by six wickets to seal the series 3-0 .
The innings was Abhishek's 11th T20 century , surpassing Virat Kohli's tally of 10 — a new Indian record.
He is now third on the global T20 centuries list, behind Chris Gayle (22) and Babar Azam (13) .
India posted 118/0 in the powerplay — the highest-ever six-over team total in men's T20 Internationals.
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla praised the knock on X , calling it a 'complete team performance.'
Abhishek Sharma smashed a staggering 113 off just 38 deliveries as India chased down 199 in only 13.2 overs at the Hnry Stadium in Wellington on Tuesday, securing a six-wicket win over New Zealand in the third T20I and taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The knock prompted BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla to say some innings simply leave you searching for words.
A Century That Rewrote Record Books
Abhishek's blitz was his fourth T20I century and his 11th hundred in the shortest format, taking him past Virat Kohli's tally of 10 T20 centuries to become the Indian player with the most hundreds in T20 cricket. Globally, he moved to third place on the all-time list of T20 centurions, behind Chris Gayle (22) and Babar Azam (13).
Powerplay Carnage and Record-Breaking Partnership
Young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided explosive support with 45 off 19 balls, and together the pair put on 118 without loss in the powerplay — the highest-ever team total in the first six overs of a men's T20 International. India also raced to 50 in just 2.2 overs, equalling the joint-fastest team fifty in men's T20Is, before crossing the 100-run mark in five overs. The visitors completed the chase emphatically in the 14th over.
What the BCCI Said
Rajeev Shukla took to X to celebrate the performance. 'Some knocks leave you searching for words, and Abhishek Sharma's century was certainly one of them! Outstanding batting, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi providing excellent support,' Shukla wrote. He followed up with a broader tribute to the team: 'A complete team performance to seal the T20I series against New Zealand. Well done, Team India!'
New Zealand's Batting Effort Falls Short
Daryl Mitchell struck an unbeaten 89 off 52 balls to guide New Zealand to 198/3, with Finn Allen contributing 40. India's bowlers, however, held the hosts to just 63 runs in the final seven overs, keeping the target just below 200. Kyle Jamieson claimed two wickets for the hosts, while Mitchell Santner and Matthew Fisher picked up one each — but the Indian batting response made those figures irrelevant.
What's Next for India
With the series already sealed 3-0, the remaining two T20Is will offer India the opportunity to complete a series whitewash and provide fringe players further international exposure. Abhishek's form going into what will be a defining stretch of the bilateral calendar marks him as a player in the form of his life.
Point of View
Underlining a batting depth that makes the format look almost too short. The real question this series raises is not whether Abhishek belongs in the XI — that is settled — but whether India is building a T20 template that the rest of the world simply cannot match ball for ball.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Abhishek Sharma set against New Zealand in the 3rd T20I?
Abhishek Sharma scored his 11th T20 century — his fourth in T20 Internationals — surpassing Virat Kohli's tally of 10 to become the Indian player with the most hundreds in T20 cricket. Globally, he moved to third place behind Chris Gayle (22) and Babar Azam (13).
What was the score and result of the 3rd T20I between India and New Zealand?
India chased down a target of 199 in 13.2 overs to win by six wickets at the Hnry Stadium in Wellington, taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Abhishek Sharma (113 off 38) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (45 off 19) powered the chase.
What powerplay record did India set in the match?
India posted 118 without loss in the powerplay — the highest-ever team total in the first six overs of a men's T20 International. They also equalled the joint-fastest team fifty in men's T20Is, reaching 50 in just 2.2 overs.
What did BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla say about Abhishek Sharma's innings?
Shukla wrote on X that 'some knocks leave you searching for words,' adding that Abhishek's century was 'certainly one of them.' He also praised Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's support and congratulated the team on a 'complete team performance.'
How did New Zealand perform in the 3rd T20I?
Daryl Mitchell top-scored with an unbeaten 89 off 52 balls as New Zealand posted 198/3. However, India's bowlers restricted the hosts to 63 runs in the final seven overs, and the visitors completed the dominant chase in the 14th over.
