Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma launched a breathtaking assault at the top as the Indian cricket team smashed the highest powerplay score in men’s T20I history during a six-wicket, series-clinching win over New Zealand on Tuesday.
Sooryavanshi struck 45 off 19 balls in the third match of the NZ vs IND T20I 2026 series in Wellington, with four fours and four sixes, while Abhishek went on to turn the blistering start into a hundred, finishing on 113 (38).
The teenage opener and Abhishek Sharma combined for 118/0 in six overs after breaking the record for the fastest team fifty in the format by a full-member nation, reaching the milestone in just 2.2 overs.
Papua New Guinea against Vanuatu (2019), Romania against Serbia (2021) and Malaysia against Hong Kong (2025) had previously reached 50 in 2.2 overs.
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India's rapid start also set a new benchmark for the fastest team hundred in the format in just five overs. Romania had previously reached the mark in 5.2 overs against Serbia in 2021.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Rajasthan Royals’ leading scorer in IPL 2026, struck four fours and as many sixes in a stunning display of power-hitting as India raced to 133/1 in 7.1 overs.
Chasing a target of 199, Sooryavanshi wasted little time in asserting his dominance, launching Jacob Duffy over mid-on for four off the first ball he faced before clearing deep point for six two deliveries later.
He continued his onslaught by hitting Michael Bracewell for a maximum and then against Royals teammate Adam Milne next, pulling a delivery over deep square leg for six in the fifth over.
The teenager, in fact, showed little regard for the New Zealand attack as he took on Duffy in the sixth over, striking consecutive fours through extra cover and past short third.
He then added a four toward backward point and a six above point to end the over and help India surge past the 100-run mark.
His explosive knock ended when he mistimed a big hit towards long-on, where Daryl Mitchell completed the catch, leaving India at 133/1 in 7.1 overs.
However, Sooryavanshi had already combined with Abhishek Sharma to devastating effect at the top of the order, putting the Men in Blue firmly on course for a comfortable victory.
With an unassailable 3-0 lead, India will face New Zealand in the penultimate match of the series in Auckland on Friday.
