Abhishek Sharma's 113 off 38 seals India's 3-0 T20I series win vs New Zealand
Synopsis
Abhishek Sharma's 113 off 38 balls in Wellington wasn't just a match-winning knock — it set a global T20I record for powerplay partnerships alongside Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, sealed a 3-0 series lead for India, and drew a cheeky public challenge from mentor Yuvraj Singh about the fastest T20I fifty ever. Two left-handed terrors and a record that may stand for years.
Key Takeaways
Abhishek Sharma scored 113 off 38 balls in the third T20I against New Zealand at Wellington on 27 October .
India chased down 199 in 13.2 overs to win by six wickets and take an unassailable 3-0 series lead.
Abhishek and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (45 off 19) put on a world-record 118 runs in the powerplay — the highest by any team in T20I history.
The century was Abhishek's 11th T20 hundred ; he reached fifty off 15 balls and the century off 35 balls .
Mentor Yuvraj Singh challenged Abhishek on X to beat his own record 50 off 12 balls from the 2007 T20 World Cup .
Abhishek Sharma smashed a breathtaking 113 off 38 balls in the third T20I against New Zealand at Wellington on 27 October, powering India to a six-wicket win and an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The left-handed batter later said he had 'manifested' the innings, crediting meticulous preparation and the backing of India's support staff for the carnage.
A Powerplay for the Record Books
Abhishek and teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who contributed 45 off 19 balls, put on a staggering 118-run partnership inside the powerplay — the highest powerplay stand by any team in T20 international history. The platform proved decisive as India overhauled a target of 199 in just 13.2 overs.
Wellington's short square boundaries and extra bounce played into the pair's hands. 'I feel the dimensions of the ground, we could use the powerplay, and we could use their pace as well. So that was the easy plan,' Abhishek told broadcasters after being named Player of the Match.
Preparation Behind the Carnage
Abhishek reached his fifty off just 15 balls and his hundred off 35 balls — his 11th T20 century overall. He was at pains to stress that such innings do not happen by accident. 'Preparation is really important as a batter. If you see the conditions and the dimensions, that's always in your mind, and then you have to keep the bowlers also in your mind and play the shots according to the bowlers,' he said. He reserved a special mention for India's coaching staff and the use of sidearm throwdowns in the build-up sessions.
'We had a good practice session yesterday, and I just wanted to utilise it, and that's what I did. And I feel I pretty much manifested this innings, and it happened,' he added.
Yuvraj Singh's Cheeky Challenge
The knock prompted a playful exchange with his mentor, former India star Yuvraj Singh. Shortly after the innings, Yuvraj posted on X: 'You still can't get 50 off 12, can you, Abhishek Sharma! Looks like two left-handers batting in their backyard!' — a nod to his own world-record 50 off 12 balls against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup.
Asked about the post, Abhishek was reverential. 'I don't know what cricket he was playing back at that time, but it's not that easy at all. You can't just go and score 50 off 12 balls. It just happens once in a while,' he said. Yuvraj later followed up with a second post, heaping praise on both youngsters and also applauding Sanju Samson for batting at No. 3 as 'a complete team man', along with India's bowlers for restricting New Zealand to under 200.
What It Means for the Series
With a 3-0 lead already secured, the remaining two T20Is are dead rubbers, but the series has underlined the emergence of a devastating opening combination in Indian T20 cricket. Both Abhishek and Sooryavanshi are still early in their international careers, and the record powerplay partnership suggests their best days together may be some distance away. India will look to complete a 5-0 whitewash when the series resumes.
Point of View
Not a gamble — he read the pitch, studied the dimensions, and executed a pre-meditated plan rather than freelancing. What is striking is how early in their careers Abhishek and Sooryavanshi have cracked a global powerplay record, suggesting India may have found a high-voltage opening combination for the T20 format for the better part of a decade. The Yuvraj comparison, while playful, is instructive: India's conveyor belt of strokemakers is no longer producing once-in-a-generation anomalies but something closer to a pattern. Whether the selectors build around this combination consistently, or rotate as they have in the past, will determine how much of this potential is actually harvested.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Abhishek Sharma score in the third T20I against New Zealand?
Abhishek Sharma scored 113 off 38 balls in the third T20I at Wellington on 27 October, helping India chase down 199 in 13.2 overs and win by six wickets. It was his 11th T20 century.
What is the significance of the Abhishek-Sooryavanshi powerplay partnership?
The pair put on 118 runs inside the powerplay, which is now the highest powerplay partnership by any team in T20I history. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi contributed 45 off 19 balls to the stand.
What did Yuvraj Singh post about Abhishek Sharma on X?
Yuvraj Singh challenged Abhishek on X, saying he still could not match his own record 50 off 12 balls from the 2007 T20 World Cup. He later posted a second message praising both Abhishek and Sooryavanshi as a 'devastating combination'.
What did Abhishek Sharma say about his preparation for this innings?
Abhishek said the knock was built on preparation — studying pitch conditions, ground dimensions, and the bowlers before the game. He credited India's coaching staff for intensive sidearm practice sessions and said he 'manifested' the innings after a strong practice session the day before.
What is India's current standing in the New Zealand T20I series?
India have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series following the Wellington win. The remaining two matches are effectively dead rubbers, with India in line to complete a potential whitewash.
