Abhishek Sharma Smashes 35-Ball Century as India Crush New Zealand to Seal T20I Series

Abhishek Sharma smashed a jaw-dropping 35-ball century today, powering India to a dominant six-wicket victory over New Zealand at the HNRY Stadium in Wellington. His sensational knock of 113 runs off just 38 balls helped India chase down a steep target of 199 in a mere 13.2 overs, securing an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
Abhishek’s masterclass in power-hitting featured 9 fours and 11 sixes, operating at a staggering strike rate of 297.37. Opening the batting alongside 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (45 off 19 balls), the dynamic left-handed duo put up an explosive 133-run opening stand in just 7.1 overs. India amassed 118 runs within the first six overs, setting a new world record for the highest T20I Powerplay score among Full-Member nations.
The spectacular innings broke several historic records:
• Surpassing Virat Kohli: This knock marked Abhishek’s 11th century in all T20 cricket, overtaking Virat Kohli for the most T20 tons scored by an Indian batsman. It was also his fourth career T20I century.
• Overtaking Chris Gayle: By hitting 11 sixes, Abhishek moved ahead of West Indies legend Chris Gayle for the second-most innings featuring 10 or more sixes in men's T20 history.
• Unique "Om" Celebration: After reaching his milestone, Abhishek adopted a calm, meditative pose on the field, which he later attributed to his mental routine.
Following the match, Abhishek’s mentor and former Indian icon Yuvraj Singh playfully poked fun at him on social media, noting that Abhishek still couldn't break his long-standing record for the fastest T20I fifty (12 balls). Abhishek, who reached his half-century in 15 balls, wittily responded that records like Yuvraj's are "not that easy" and players don't actively chase them on the field.