By Sports Desk | CricBengal.com
The explosive opener Abhishek Sharma has taken the cricketing world by storm once again, hammering a breathtaking century against New Zealand in the third T20I. Playing in Wellington, the dynamic left-hander reached his hundred off just 35 deliveries, rewriting multiple records and powering India to a comprehensive six-wicket victory to seal the series with two games to spare.
Blistering 35-Ball Ton and Overtaking Virat Kohli
Abhishek’s knock came to an end at 113 off a mere 38 balls, studded with 9 boundaries and a staggering 11 maximums. With this phenomenal performance, the 24-year-old registered his 11th T20 century, officially surpassing Virat Kohli’s tally of 10 to become the Indian batsman with the most T20 hundreds. Propelled by his onslaught, India racked up a record-shattering 118 runs in the powerplay alone, setting a brand-new benchmark in men’s T20 internationals.
Yuvraj Singh’s Playful Jab and Abhishek’s Reaction
Right after the match-winning masterclass, legendary all-rounder and mentor Yuvraj Singh took to X (formerly Twitter) to playfully troll his protégé, writing: “You still can’t get 50 off 12 can you Abhishek Sharma!” Responding to the hilarious jab during the post-match interaction, a smiling Abhishek remarked with utmost admiration, “I have said this before as well, I don’t know what cricket he was playing back at that time. Going and scoring like that is not easy!” The heartwarming banter between the two Punjab southpaws quickly became the talk of the town.
CricBengal Analysis: Decoding Abhishek’s Power-Hitting Mastery
Our tactical sports desk evaluates that Abhishek Sharma’s fearless approach inside the powerplay has completely changed the dimension of India’s T20 blueprint. His 133-run opening stand alongside Vaibhav Sooryavanshi broke the back of the chase. His ability to manipulate the field, target both pace and spin with equal disdain, and clear boundaries at will makes him a nightmare for opposition captains.
Match Squad & Playing XI (India vs New Zealand, 3rd T20I)
- India Playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (WK/Captain), Suryakumar Yadav, Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Prince Yadav.
- New Zealand Playing XI: Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (Captain), Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.
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