Guwahati erupted in cheers as Abhishek Sharma delivered a masterclass in aggressive batting against New Zealand in the third T20I. The young opener’s blistering 14-ball fifty propelled him into elite company, marking the second-quickest such knock by an Indian in T20I history.
Unleashing fury from the outset, Sharma finished unbeaten on 68 from 20 deliveries, bludgeoning seven fours and five sixes. His partnerships were poetry in motion: a rapid 53 with Ishan Kishan for the second wicket in 19 balls, followed by a match-winning 102-run alliance with skipper Suryakumar Yadav off 40 balls. At 25, Sharma is fast becoming India’s go-to T20 aggressor.
Yuvraj Singh’s legendary 14-ball fifty against England in 2007 remains the Indian benchmark against full members. Globally, South Africa’s John Frylinck (13 balls) and New Zealand’s Colin Munro (14 balls) lead. But Sharma’s record for sub-25 ball fifties is unmatched—he’s done it nine times, surpassing Suryakumar’s eight and tying ahead of Phil Salt and Evin Lewis on seven each.
New Zealand’s innings folded at 153 for nine after being put in to bat. Phillips’ 48 and Chapman’s 32 offered resistance, but Bumrah’s 3/17, alongside Pandya and Bishnoi’s 2/2 each, dismantled them. India romped home in 10 overs, with Sharma’s 68*, Suryakumar’s 57* (26 balls), and Kishan’s 28 sealing a statement victory.