IND vs NZ: Despite a 14-ball fifty, Yuvraj Singh challenges Abhishek Sharma for THIS massive feat

Abhishek Sharma registered record for the second-fastest fifty for India in IND vs NZ 3rd T20I.

Indian opener Abhishek Sharma rocked the field with batting heroics at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday (January 25), smacking a quickfire half-century in the third T20I against New Zealand. The left-handed batsman rained sixes since the start of the second innings, smashing a half-century off just 14 deliveries.

With his unbeaten 68* runs off 20 balls, the 25-year-old played a pivotal role in India’s victory, where they chased 154. At an impeccable strike rate of 340.0, he smashed seven fours and five sixes. With his knock, the Men-in-Blue chased down the target by eight wickets in just ten overs, winning three games in a row to seal the series.

Moreover, Sharma also clinched an incredible record in his kitty with his brilliant batting show. He scripted the record for the second-fastest half-century for India after former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh. The latter achieved the mark off just 12 deliveries in the clash against England in ICC T20 World Cup 2007, which is also the fastest fifty in T20I cricket to date (among full member nations).

Yuvraj Singh challenges Abhishek Sharma on Instagram

Indian legend Yuvraj Singh, who is also Abhishek’s mentor, teased him on social media following his batting heroics against the Kiwis. Taking to Instagram, Yuvraj hailed the young batter for his quickfire half-century but challenged him to break his record.

Tagging Abhishek on his Instagram story, Yuvraj wrote, “Still can’t get a 50 off 12 balls, can you? Well played- keep going strong!

Although Abhishek could not break Yuvraj’s record in the encounter, his innings reminded commentators and fans of the latter’s batting show in 2007 against England.

The former Indian all-rounder shattered six consecutive sixes off England’s pacer Stuart Broad in T20 World Cup 2007 to script history and score his fifty off 12 balls. His record has been only broken by associate nation Nepal’s batter Dipendra Singh Airee off nine deliveries in a clash against Mongolia in 2023.

Meanwhile, Abhishek hammered his second fifty in the ongoing IND vs NZ T20I series. He also scored a half-century in the first game in Nagpur and won the Player of the Match award.

With three victories in a row, India have gained a 3-0 lead in the five-match series. They will now clash in the fourth T20I on January 28 in Visakhapatnam.

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