IND vs NZ: Abhishek sharma joins his idol Yuvraj Singh; slams second fastest fifty for India in T20Is

Abhishek Sharma has been in red-hot form in the ongoing IND vs NZ T20I series.

India continue to dominate New Zealand in the ongoing T20I series. On an excellent batting track, the Indian bowlers outfoxed the Kiwi batters. Harshit Rana once again picked up the early wicket of Devon Conway, and Hardik Pandya ensured to maintain the pressure on the batters from the other end.

The visitors failed to find the gaps, and instead kept hitting the ball straight to the fielders. Ravi Bishnoi, who returned to the playing XI after 11 months, claimed two wickets and was the pick of the bowlers.

Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah did what he does best, and once again proved why he is the best bowler in this format. His finished with 3 wickets, going for just 17 runs in his four overs, to restrict the opposition to 153/9.

Abhishek sharma slams second fastest fifty for India

In a spectacle of raw power, young Indian opener Abhishek Sharma etched his name into T20I history during the third match against New Zealand cricket team at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.

Chasing a target of 154, Abhishek unleashed a breathtaking 14-ball half-century, racing to his ninth T20I fifty in record time. His knock, laced with five fours and four sixes, surpassed Hardik Pandya’s previous second-fastest Indian fifty of 16 balls, with only Yuvraj Singh’s iconic 12-ball blitz against England in 2007 standing ahead.

Abhishek celebrated the milestone with his trademark L-shaped gesture, bringing it up in emphatic fashion by pummelling a short delivery over the leg side for a maximum. After Sanju Samson departed for a golden duck, Abhishek found solid support from Ishan Kishan, as the duo tore into the New Zealand attack.

India stormed to 94 for 2 in the powerplay, their second-highest powerplay score in T20Is, scoring at a staggering rate of 15.67 runs per over. The chase was wrapped up in ruthless fashion as Kishan finished unbeaten on 68 off just 20 deliveries, while captain Suryakumar Yadav chipped in with a fluent 57 off 26 balls.

India hunted down the target in just 10 overs, clinching a dominant 3–0 series victory and underlining their growing authority in the 20-over format.

Fastest 50s for India in T20Is

12b – Yuvraj Singh v ENG (2007)14b – Abhishek Sharma v NZ (2026)*16b – Hardik Pandya v SA (2025)17b – Abhishek Sharma v ENG (2025)18b – KL Rahul v SCO (2021)18b – Suryakumar Yadav v SA (2022)19b – Gautam Gambhir v SL (2009)19b – Rohit Sharma v AUS (2024)20b – Yuvraj Singh v AUS (2007)20b – Yuvraj Singh v SL (2009)20b – Axar Patel v SL (2023)20b – Abhishek Sharma v ENG (2025)

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