Abhishek Sharma’s meteoric rise in international cricket reached new heights on January 25 as the young left-hander delivered a breathtaking performance against New Zealand in the third T20I in Guwahati. Playing at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, Abhishek Sharma tore into the Black Caps' bowling attack to reach his half-century in just 14 deliveries.
Abhishek Sharma falls short of Yuvraj Singh’s record in 3rd T20I
This explosive innings placed him among the elite, as he narrowly missed breaking Yuvraj Singh’s long-standing record for the fastest T20I fifty by a player from a full-member nation. Yuvraj’s legendary 12-ball fifty against England in 2007 remains the gold standard for India, while Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee holds the global record with a nine-ball half-century achieved against Mongolia in 2023.
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Despite missing the national record, Abhishek set a unique benchmark by becoming the first player in T20I history to record nine half-centuries in 25 balls or fewer. This milestone highlights his remarkable consistency in high-speed scoring. Interestingly, his record did not stand alone for long; just minutes later, his captain Suryakumar Yadav reached his own fifty in exactly 25 balls, equaling Abhishek's feat during the same match.
In a clinical display of power hitting, Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav made easy work of New Zealand’s 154-run target to secure a dominant eight-wicket victory in the third T20I. Abhishek led the charge with a blistering, unbeaten 68 off just 20 deliveries, while his captain provided stellar support with a rapid 57 not out from 26 balls.
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The pair combined for a devastating 102-run partnership that came off only 40 deliveries, effectively taking the game away from the visitors in record time.
That's more than impossible for anyone: Abhishek Sharma
After the match, Abhishek admitted that it's impossible to break Yuvraj's record.
"(On his 14-ball fifty) That's what my team wants from me and I just want to execute all the time. But obviously, it's not easy to do it every time, but I think it's all about mental as well and the atmosphere you get around your dressing room as well. That's more than impossible for anyone (to break Yuvraj's fastest T20 fifty record), but still, you never know," Abhishek said at the post-match presentation.