NZ vs IND: Abhishek Sharma’s Blazing 113 Seals Record-Breaking Chase as India Celebrate Early Diwali

Abhishek Sharma’s Explosive 113 Powers India to Series-Sealing Victory Over New Zealand

India produced a sensational batting display to defeat New Zealand by chasing a target of 199 in just 13.2 overs, securing an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20I series. Abhishek Sharma was the star of the contest, smashing an incredible 113 off 38 balls, while teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added a blistering 45 from just 19 deliveries.

The emphatic victory turned the third T20I into a memorable occasion for the visitors, who dismantled New Zealand’s bowling attack with extraordinary aggression. India’s explosive start also set a new world record for the highest powerplay score in men’s T20I cricket, with the team racing to 118 runs in the first six overs.

India Rewrite the Record Books
Chasing 199, India began at a breathtaking pace, reaching 50 in just 2.2 overs and crossing the 100-run mark inside five overs. The opening pair maintained relentless pressure on the New Zealand bowlers, making the target appear far less challenging than anticipated.

The windy conditions in Wellington had created difficulties for India during their pre-match fielding practice, but the weather did little to slow their batters. Abhishek and Sooryavanshi attacked from the outset, turning the chase into a spectacular exhibition of power-hitting.

India’s record-breaking powerplay laid the foundation for a comfortable victory, with the team eventually reaching the target in 13.2 overs and finishing the chase with 40 balls to spare.

Abhishek Sharma Delivers a Stunning Century
Abhishek continued his remarkable run in T20I cricket with an innings that combined fearless strokeplay and exceptional timing. The left-hander reached his century in just 35 deliveries, putting New Zealand’s bowling attack under sustained pressure.

He finished with 113 runs off 38 balls, including 11 sixes and nine fours. Bowlers such as Jacob Duffy, Adam Milne and Kyle Jamieson struggled to contain his attacking approach as he repeatedly found the boundary.

The knock marked Abhishek’s fourth T20I century and further underlined his reputation as one of India’s most destructive batters in the shortest format. His ability to score rapidly without allowing the opposition to settle has become a defining feature of his game.

Abhishek has also established an impressive record of rapid half-centuries in T20 internationals, reflecting his ability to change the course of a match within a few overs.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Provides Explosive Support
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made the most of his opportunity at the top of the order, scoring 45 from only 19 balls. Promoted to open alongside Abhishek in place of Sanju Samson, the youngster matched his senior partner’s attacking intent.

The pair shared a remarkable 133-run opening partnership from just 43 deliveries, leaving India firmly in control of the contest. Their aggressive approach ensured that the required run rate quickly ceased to be a concern.

Sooryavanshi’s contribution demonstrated the depth of India’s batting options and the effectiveness of the decision to pair the young left-hander with Abhishek.

Yuvraj Singh Praises Abhishek’s Fireworks
Abhishek’s extraordinary innings also attracted attention from his mentor, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh. The youngster came close to challenging Yuvraj’s record for the fastest T20I half-century by an Indian, but missed the 12-ball milestone by three deliveries.

Reacting playfully on Instagram, Yuvraj acknowledged the remarkable pace of Abhishek’s scoring. He later congratulated the opener on X, joking that even he had not managed to score a century in 30 or 34 balls.

Yuvraj also praised Sooryavanshi for his aggressive contribution and appreciated Sanju Samson’s willingness to move down to No. 3 for the benefit of the team.

The decision to promote Sooryavanshi proved highly effective, with the opening partnership effectively deciding the outcome before the middle order had much work to do.

India briefly slowed down after Abhishek’s dismissal in the 10th over. Samson and Shreyas Iyer were unable to replicate the extraordinary scoring rate of the opening pair, but the substantial advantage ensured there was no real threat to India’s victory.

Daryl Mitchell’s Unbeaten 89 Lifts New Zealand to 198/3
Earlier, New Zealand posted 198 for three after being asked to bat first. Daryl Mitchell led the innings with an unbeaten 89 from 52 balls, while Bevon Jacobs contributed 39 not out off 23 deliveries.

India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl. Arshdeep Singh made an early breakthrough by dismissing Tim Seifert, giving the visitors an encouraging start.

New Zealand recovered through Finn Allen and Mitchell, who added 86 runs for the second wicket. Allen scored 40 from 25 balls before Nitish Kumar Reddy ended his innings.

Mitchell then anchored the innings while continuing to score at a healthy rate. His combination of controlled batting and powerful hitting helped New Zealand build a competitive total, with Jacobs providing valuable support during the closing stages.

Mitchell’s unbeaten 89 became his highest individual score in T20I cricket. However, New Zealand could not push the total beyond India’s reach, as the visitors’ bowlers restricted the hosts to 52 runs in the final five overs.

Arshdeep finished with figures of one wicket for 33 runs in four overs, helping limit New Zealand’s late acceleration.

India Look to Complete a Clean Sweep
India’s remarkable chase ensured that New Zealand’s competitive total was comfortably overhauled and the five-match series was decided with two games remaining.

Abhishek’s century, Sooryavanshi’s explosive support and the record-breaking powerplay combined to produce one of India’s most commanding batting performances in T20I cricket.

The teams are scheduled to meet again in the fourth T20I in Auckland on Friday. With the series already secured, India will aim to carry their momentum into the remaining matches and complete a clean sweep against New Zealand.