Wellington, October 27,2026: Abhishek Sharma smashed a blistering 113 off 38 balls as India thrashed New Zealand by six wickets in the third T20 International on Tuesday to seal the five-match series with two games to spare.
The explosive opener reached his century in just 35 balls, narrowly missing his own record of a 30-ball hundred against Afghanistan in Delhi last month. His extraordinary innings helped India chase down New Zealand’s 199-run target in just 13.2 overs.
Abhishek and 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi combined for 118 runs in the powerplay, surpassing the previous record of 116 set by Romania against Serbia in 2021.
“That was the plan for us. Just get the momentum for the team and keep going,” said Abhishek, who was named player of the match.
The opening pair put on 133 runs before Sooryavanshi, promoted up the order, departed for 45 after being caught at long-on while attempting to hit recalled fast bowler Matthew Fisher over his head.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner dropped Abhishek on 92 at extra cover, misjudging the ball’s flight in Wellington’s swirling winds. The reprieve proved costly as the Indian batter soon reached his century by smashing Kyle Jamieson towards the fine-leg boundary.
Abhishek celebrated the milestone with a meditation pose associated with football star Erling Haaland. Jamieson eventually dismissed him, with Glenn Phillips taking a catch near deep midwicket.
Earlier, New Zealand posted a competitive 198 after being asked to bat for the third consecutive match. Daryl Mitchell top-scored with an unbeaten 89, but the hosts struggled to contain India’s aggressive batting in the powerplay.
Santner acknowledged the challenge of restricting India’s in-form batters, saying it was difficult to stop them once they found their rhythm.
The two teams will meet in the fourth T20I in Auckland on Friday, with New Zealand seeking to bounce back after losing the series.
