Abhishek Sharma smashed a record-breaking century to power India to a series-clinching victory over New Zealand in the third T20I at the Hnry Stadium in Wellington on Tuesday.

Abhishek unleashed a stunning assault, smashing his fourth T20I century with 113 runs off just 38 balls. His explosive innings helped India chase down the 199-run target in just 13.2 overs, with six wickets to spare. The victory gave India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

Abhishek also registered his 11th T20 century, making him the Indian player with the most hundreds in the shortest format. He surpassed veteran batter Virat Kohli, who has scored 10 T20 centuries.

Abhishek now ranks third on the list of players with the most T20 centuries, behind Chris Gayle (22) and Babar Azam (13).

While Abhishek dominated the New Zealand attack, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also made a strong impression after opening the innings. He smashed 45 runs off 19 balls as India’s batters shattered multiple records and put the New Zealand bowlers under immense pressure.

India recorded the highest-ever powerplay total in men’s T20I cricket, scoring 118 without losing a wicket in the first six overs. The team surpassed Romania’s previous record of 116/0 against Serbia in 2021.

Abhishek and Sooryavanshi tore into New Zealand’s depleted bowling attack and raced towards the target. India also crossed the 100-run mark in just five overs, recording the second-fastest team hundred in T20 cricket. Eswatini hold the record after reaching 100 in 4.5 overs against Mozambique earlier this year.

The Men in Blue also reached their team fifty in just 2.2 overs, matching the fastest mark in T20 cricket. Papua New Guinea achieved the same feat against Vanuatu, while Romania also reached the milestone in 2.2 overs against Serbia.

New Zealand’s bowlers endured a difficult outing, with Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson missing the match due to fitness concerns. Returning pacers Kyle Jamieson and Matthew Fisher, along with captain Mitchell Santner, managed to claim wickets. Jamieson took two wickets, while Fisher and Santner claimed one each.

Jamieson dismissed the dangerous Abhishek for 113 in the 10th over, while Fisher removed Sooryavanshi for 45 in the eighth over. Jamieson later dismissed Sanju Samson for 18, and Santner sent Shreyas Iyer back for five in the 13th over after the Indian batter holed out to deep mid-wicket.

However, New Zealand had already lost control of the contest. Tilak Varma (1) and Naman Dhir (4) guided India home in the 14th over to seal a six-wicket victory.

Earlier, Daryl Mitchell struck a career-best 89 not out off 52 balls to guide New Zealand to 198/3. The hosts reached 100/2 at the halfway stage and looked set for a bigger total, but India’s bowlers tightened their lines and restricted them during the final overs.

Mitchell anchored the innings and remained unbeaten on 89, while Bevon Jacobs contributed 39 off 23 balls. However, New Zealand failed to deliver the late surge they needed to push the total beyond 200.

New Zealand stood at 123/3 after 12 overs as they prepared for a final assault. India’s bowlers adapted well to the conditions, targeting fuller lengths and yorkers to exploit the ground’s longer straight boundaries and shorter square boundaries.

India conceded just 63 runs in the final seven overs through disciplined bowling. The visitors rotated four bowlers during the death overs and successfully restricted the hosts.

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh praised Abhishek’s explosive century and Sooryavanshi’s contribution after India sealed the third T20I to take an unassailable 3-0 lead.

Yuvraj also took a playful dig at his own batting while congratulating Abhishek on X.

“You still can’t get 50 off 12 can you @OfficialAbhi04! Looks like two left-handers batting in their backyard! And I can’t make 100 of 30 or 34 balls. Well played sir @OfficialAbhi04! Great innings aur apne single bhi le liye. Good stuff on the other end by #VaibhavSooryavanshi! Devastating combination! Hats off to @IamSanjuSamson, playing at no. 3 as a complete team man! Well-bowled by our bowlers to keep the score under 200! Great series win congratulations Team India,” Yuvraj wrote.

India have now secured an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, clinching another T20I series against New Zealand.

Brief Scores:
New Zealand 198/3 (Daryl Mitchell 89*, Finn Allen 40; Arshdeep Singh 1-33, Axar Patel 1-36)
India 199/4 13.2 overs(Abhishek Sharma 113, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 45; Kyle Jamieson 2-45, Mitchell Santner 1-17)