IND vs NZ: Ishan Kishan scripts history! Breaks Abhishek Sharma’s THIS huge record against New Zealand

Ishan Kishan scored a half-century off just 21 balls in IND vs NZ 2nd T20 in Raipur.

After a gap of more than two years, wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan made a comeback to the Indian Cricket Team in the T20I series against New Zealand. The left-handed batsman was named in the Indian squad for the five-match T20I series as well as the T20 World Cup 2026 following his marvellous performances in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025.

Kishan, however, failed to make an impact on his return as he got out cheaply in the first T20I game against New Zealand. But, he made sure that he left no stone unturned in the second match. The keeper-batter came up with breathtaking innings and changed the course of the game with his heroics.

In the first clash, Abhishek Sharma grabbed the limelight with his match-winning half-century. With his 84 runs off 35 balls, he helped the team to reach a mammoth total of 238/7 in the first innings. Later, the Men-in-Blue crushed the Black Caps by 48 runs. He was also awarded Player of the Match.

Ishan Kishan breaks Abhishek Sharma’s record in 2nd T20I after his half-century

Smacking a half-century off just 22 deliveries in the 1st T20I, Sharma scripted the record for the fastest half-century against New Zealand. However, he couldn’t hold the record for long as Kishan bettered that in the second T20I.

The keeper-batter hammered a fifty off just 21 deliveries. He eventually got out for 76 runs off 32 deliveries. Smashing four sixes and 11 boundaries in his knock, he sent the Raipur crowd on fire. With his batting heroics, India chased the target with ease.

Indian batters with fastest fifties against New Zealand

• Ishan Kishan (21 balls) – 2026 (Raipur)
• Abhishek Sharma (22 balls)- 2026 (Nagpur)
• Suryakumar Yadav (23 balls) – 2026 (Raipur)
• KL Rahul (23 balls) – 2020 (Auckland)
• Rohit Sharma (23 balls) – 2020 (Hamilton)

Overall, Australia’s David Warner and Pakistan’s Iftikhar Ahmed hold the record for fastest fifty against New Zealand in T20Is off 20 deliveries. In international cricket, Kishan shares the record with Australia’s Cameron White and Mitchell Marsh, as well as England’s Eoin Morgan.

Fastest fifties against New Zealand in T20Is

• David Warner (Australia)- 20 balls
• Iftikhar Ahmed (Pakistan) 20 balls
• Mitchell Marsh (Australia) – 21 balls
• Eoin Morgan (England) – 21 balls
• Cameron White (Australia)- 21 balls
• Ishan Kishan (India)- 21 balls

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