Abhishek Sharma breaks Virat Kohli’s record for most T20 tons by India batter with 113 in Wellington

India’s established T20I opener Abhishek Sharma achieved several feats with his stormy 38-ball 113 in the successful run chase against New Zealand in the third T20I of the series at Hnry Stadium, Wellington. Abhishek broke Virat Kohli’s record for most T20 centuries (including T20Is, domestic T20s and franchise T20s). This was Abhishek’s 11th T20 ton, surpassing Kohli’s 10.

In the overall list, Abhishek is third on the list. There are only two batters ahead of him. The top spot is occupied by former West Indies opener and self-proclaimed 'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle, who retired with 22 centuries in 463 games. Pakistan's Babar Azam holds the second spot with 13 T20 centuries from 359 games. Babar is currently facing a snub from Pakistan's T20I squad. He will have chances to maintain a lead only when he plays T20 franchise cricket.

Abhishek reached his fourth T20I century from just 35 balls, the joint second-fastest by an Indian batter. The record for fastest T20I ton among full-member nations belongs to him only. Earlier this year, he had scored a 30-ball century against Afghanistan in Delhi.

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Abhishek breaks Iyer’s record

Abhishek's 113-run knock is the highest score by an Indian batter in a successful T20I run chase. He broke the record held by T20I captain Shreyas Iyer. Three weeks earlier, Iyer had scored an unbeaten 102 against West Indies. KL Rahul (101 vs England) and Rohit Sharma (100 vs England) have T20I tons in successful run chases as well.

Abhishek misses breaking Suryakumar and Levi’s records

Overall, Abhishek's 113 is the second-highest score by an India batter in a T20I run chase. Former captain Suryakumar Yadav scored 117 against England in 2022 in a losing cause.

Abhishek's 113 is the second-highest score by a visiting batter in New Zealand in the format. Former South Africa batter Richard Levi holds the record with an unbeaten 117 in Hamilton in 2012.

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Abhishek joins 150 sixes club

Abhishek hit nine fours and 11 sixes in his match-winning knock. With his third six of the evening, he completed 150 sixes. He is the ninth batter to achieve the feat. Among India batters, he is third on the list after Rohit (205 sixes) and Suryakumar (179 sixes). Abhishek shares the ninth position alongside West Indies' Rovman Powell with 158 sixes.

Abhishek equals Rohit 

This was Abhishek's fourth T20I century. He is now level with England's Phil Salt, Austria's Karanbir Singh and his former skipper Suryakumar. Australia's Glenn Maxwell and Rohit share the top spot with five T20I tons. 

Big win for Team India 

India made a mockery of the run chase of 189. Abhishek opened the innings alongside Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He got the strike on the fifth delivery and hit Jacob Duffy for a six to get off the mark. In the next over, Abhishek smashed Adam Milne for two consecutive sixes and a four. Off-spinner Michael Bracewell was introduced into the attack, but it didn't matter to the openers. Abhishek hit him for a six and two fours. In the fourth over, Abhishek whacked Kyle Jamieson for two sixes and as many fours. He reached his fifty from just 15 balls.

Abhishek, with help from Sooryavanshi, got India to the 100-run mark in just five overs. This is the fastest team hundred in T20Is. In the sixth over, Sooryavanshi hit three fours and a six as India broke the record for the highest powerplay overs score. India were 118/0 in six overs.

The approach did not change after the powerplay overs. Abhishek hit Bracewell for two more sixes. The wicket of Sooryavanshi in the eighth over did not slow him down. He clobbered Matthew Fisher for a couple of sixes as well. On the third ball of the 10th over, Abhishek reached his century from 35 balls. He hit Jamieson for a six and a four before he miscued a short ball and got caught by Glenn Phillips in the deep.

When Abhishek departed, India had 178/2 on the board. Iyer was dismissed for a single-digit score. Then, Sanju Samson got bowled for a 13-ball 18. Naman Dhir scored the winning runs for the visitors. India won the match by six wickets with 40 balls to spare. India also took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-T20I series. 

Abhishek wins POTM award

As expected, Abhishek was named ‘Player of the match’ for his scintillating knock. He revealed the approach to the run chase and lauded Sooryavanshi. 

“I think the key was pretty simple. It was just me and Vaibhav, just going to enjoy there for a bit, especially in the powerplay. And especially when we were fielding, we were observing the pitch a bit because of this extra bounce. But I feel the dimensions of the ground, we could use the powerplay and we could use the pace as well. So that was the easy plan. And then, obviously, the way he started the first over, Vaibhav, I think that was really special. And that was the plan for us, get the momentum for the team and then just keep going,” the opener said in the post-match presentation. 

Abhishek credited the practice sessions and thanked coaches for helping him improve. 

“I mean, obviously, it's, I feel it's not that, I wouldn't say it's easy, that easy, but it's just the preparation behind the scenes. I would say a special mention to our coaches because of the sidearms; we've been playing them a lot. And it's just, I feel that preparation is really important as a batter. If you see the conditions and the dimensions, that's always in your mind, and then you have to keep the bowlers also in your mind and play the shots according to the bowlers. And that all I do. We had a good practice session yesterday, and I just wanted to utilise it, and that's what I did. And I feel I pretty much, you know, manifested this innings, and it happened,” said the 26-year-old.

Abhishek was asked by presenter and former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull about Yuvraj Singh’s post. Yuvraj had joked about Abhishek not being able to break his record for 12-ball fifty. 

“I mean, I've said this before as well. I don't know what cricket he was playing back at that time, but it's not that easy at all. And I would say if any batter wants to go there and bat like that, it's not easy at all. You can't just go and score 50 off 12 balls. It just happens once in a while. But, obviously, as a batter, we don't go for that milestone,” said the southpaw.

The next T20I will be played on October 30 at Eden Park, Auckland.