Abhishek Sharma walked out to bat in Guwahati with India wobbling early and, within minutes, stamped his authority on the chase. Chasing a modest target of 154 in the third T20I against New Zealand, India suffered an early blow when Sanju Samson was dismissed for a golden duck. The crowd had barely settled when Abhishek decided to take control. What followed was a breathtaking counter-attack that flipped the game on its head.
Abhishek stitched together a blistering 53-run partnership with Ishan Kishan, who chipped in with 28, in just 19 balls. The stand was not just match-defining but historic, becoming India’s fastest team fifty in T20 internationals and putting New Zealand firmly on the back foot.Quickest 50 against a FM team (by balls)12 balls Yuvraj Singh vs Eng Durban 200713 balls Jan Frylinck vs Zim Bulawayo 202514 balls Colin Munro vs SL Auckland 201614 balls Abhishek Sharma vs NZ Guwahati 2026 *15 Quinton de Kock vs WI Centurin 2023 During this stand, Abhishek brought up his fifty in just 14 balls, making it the joint third-fastest half-century against a Full Member nation in men’s T20Is. Only Yuvraj Singh’s iconic 12-ball fifty against England in 2007 and Jan Frylinck’s 13-ball effort earlier this year sit above him. The knock underlined his growing reputation as one of India’s most fearless top-order batters, with Abhishek still batting and dictating terms.The innings also summed up his roller-coaster start to the series. In the first T20I, he smashed a stunning 84 off just 35 balls. The second game brought disappointment with a golden duck. In the third, he responded with intent, clarity and fearless strokeplay as India seized a 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Earlier in the evening, India’s bowlers had laid the perfect platform. Ravi Bishnoi marked his return after nearly a year with a tight and impactful spell, picking up two wickets for 18 runs. Jasprit Bumrah was lethal as ever with three for 17, while Hardik Pandya chipped in with two wickets and a stunning catch to dismiss Devon Conway early. New Zealand were restricted to 153 for 9, a total that never quite felt enough once Abhishek Sharma found his rhythm at the top.
