In the third T20I against New Zealand, India romped home in just 13.2 overs while chasing a 199-run target. India had reached 178/2 in just 10 overs, thanks to Abhishek Sharma (113 off 38 balls) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (45 off 19 balls). The win ensured India took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. He rated Sanju Samson 7, while India captain Shreyas Iyer received a 4.
After the match, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin rated the players’ performances for the official broadcasters of the series. Ashwin awarded perfect 10s to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma. Tilak Varma was not rated as he did not bat.
It was carnage in Wellington on Tuesday.
Abhishek was in absolute carnage mode as he slammed his fourth T20I century, finishing on 113 off 38 balls to help India gun down the 199-run target in just 13.2 overs with six wickets in hand. The victory helped India take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. India smashed the highest-ever team total in a men’s T20I powerplay, scoring 118/0 in the first six overs. It is now the highest score by any team in a powerplay, surpassing Romania’s 116/0 against Serbia in a T20I in 2021.
He surpassed veteran Virat Kohli , who has scored 10 T20 centuries. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, promoted to the opening role for the match, also impressed with 45 off 19 deliveries as records tumbled and New Zealand’s bowlers bore the brunt of the Indian batting assault While Abhishek produced another jaw-dropping knock. India also crossed the 100-run mark in just five overs, the second-fastest by any team in T20 cricket, behind Eswatini, which reached 100 in 4.5 overs against Mozambique earlier this year. The Men in Blue also brought up their fifty in just 2.2 overs, which is now the joint-fastest team fifty in T20 cricket. Papua New Guinea had reached 50 in 2.2 overs against Vanuatu, while Romania also achieved the feat in 2.2 overs against Serbia.
Apart from his fourth T20I century, this was Abhishek’s 11th T20 hundred, the most by an Indian player in the shortest format. The two batters made a mockery of the depleted New Zealand bowling attack as they went hammer and tongs in pursuit of the target.
