India opener Abhishek Sharma has revealed that 14-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi invoked an iconic dialogue from the Bollywood film 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' during their net session ahead of the third T20I against New Zealand — and then backed it up with a breathtaking display that helped seal India's series victory at the Hnry Stadium on Tuesday. Sooryavanshi reportedly told Abhishek, 'Bhaiya, khelunga bhi waise hi' ('Brother, I will play the same way'), drawing on the film's fearless spirit before walking out and smashing 45 off 19 balls.

The Conversation That Started It All

Speaking in a post-match BCCI video, Abhishek recounted the exchange word for word. 'Yesterday, Vaibhav told me something in the nets that I will play the same way as in the Milkha Singh movie Bhag Milkha Bhag dialogue — Bhaiya, khelunga bhi waise hi,' he said. The left-hander described how Sooryavanshi's aggression from the very first ball lifted the confidence of the batter at the non-striker's end, particularly while facing New Zealand's frontline pace attack. 'On the first ball, the non-striker gets excited,' Abhishek noted, crediting the teenager's intent for setting the tone of the chase.

Record-Breaking Opening Stand

The pair turned their pre-match promise into statistical history. India reached 118 without loss in the powerplay — the highest-ever team total in the first six overs of a men's T20 International. The fifty came up in just 2.2 overs, equalling the joint-fastest team fifty in the format, and the hundred arrived inside five overs. Abhishek went on to hammer an extraordinary 113 off 38 deliveries, as India chased down New Zealand's target of 199 in just 13.2 overs to win by six wickets and clinch the series.

Abhishek's Special Mention for Sooryavanshi

Abhishek was generous in directing the spotlight towards his young partner. 'I feel special mention to Vaibhav. What he did today, I think, played a very crucial role today. So it goes to him,' he said. The tribute underscores how critical the teenager's 45-run cameo was in dismantling New Zealand's bowling plans in the powerplay, making the subsequent chase almost a formality.

Team Selflessness and Bowling Effort

Abhishek also praised the collective character of the squad, noting that Sanju Samson willingly adjusted his role after opening in the previous two innings. 'I feel like Sanju Bhai showed his character. The whole team showed their character,' he said. On the bowling front, he credited Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, and Nitish Kumar Reddy — describing Reddy as 'a complete all-rounder' — for restricting New Zealand to 198/3 despite an unbeaten 89 off 52 balls from Daryl Mitchell. 'Because of that, the total was low today. And we were able to play like this,' Abhishek said.

What It Means for India's T20 Blueprint

Sooryavanshi's emergence alongside experienced openers signals a broader shift in India's T20 philosophy — youth, fearlessness, and innings-setting aggression over caution. At just 14, he is already rewriting powerplay records and earning the admiration of senior teammates. The series win against New Zealand, built on this explosive opening combination, will likely invite discussion about India's batting order going into future bilateral contests and tournaments.