Wellington, October 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India batter Abhishek Sharma credited meticulous preparation for his explosive 113 off just 38 balls in the third T20I against New Zealand, revealing that he had “manifested” such an innings. His sensational knock helped India chase down a target of 199 in just 13.2 overs, securing an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
Abhishek smashed his 11th T20 century as India registered a six-wicket victory. The left-hander and young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who scored 45 off 19 balls, combined for a record-breaking 118 runs in the powerplay, the highest powerplay total by any team in world cricket.
Named Player of the Match, Abhishek spoke about his partnership with Sooryavanshi, the preparation behind his explosive batting and a special message from his mentor, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh.
Explaining the approach behind the opening assault, Abhishek said the plan was to enjoy batting together and make the most of the powerplay. He revealed that the batters had assessed the pitch while fielding, paying particular attention to the extra bounce, ground dimensions and short square boundaries.
“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,” Abhishek told broadcasters after the match.
He added that the pair looked to use the bowlers’ pace and exploit the conditions to maximise scoring opportunities.
Abhishek also highlighted the role of the coaching staff and his preparation in producing such an innings. Pointing to the different conditions in Wellington compared with Christchurch, he said regular practice with sidearm deliveries had helped him prepare for challenging situations.
“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,” he said.
Recalling the practice session on the eve of the match, Abhishek said he wanted to make the most of the work done in the nets.
“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 manifested this innings, and it happened,” he added.
Abhishek reached his half-century in just 15 balls and completed his hundred off 35 deliveries, prompting a playful social media challenge from his mentor, Yuvraj Singh.
Yuvraj, who holds the Indian record for the fastest T20I half-century after reaching the milestone in 12 balls against England during the 2007 T20 World Cup, teased his protégé on X.
“You still can’t get 50 off 12, can you, Abhishek Sharma! Looks like two left-handers batting in their backyard!” Yuvraj wrote.
Responding to the post, Abhishek praised his mentor’s extraordinary achievements and acknowledged how difficult it was to score a half-century in just 12 deliveries.
“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,” he said.
Abhishek stressed that personal milestones were not the primary objective for him or Sooryavanshi, emphasising that their focus remained on winning matches for India.
“As a batter, we don’t go for that milestone. We always want to win the game for the team, me and especially Vaibhav. He’s here. So that was the plan, and that’s what we want to take throughout the series as well, and it went well,” he added.
Yuvraj later posted another message praising Abhishek’s ability to score centuries in fewer than 40 balls. He also applauded Sooryavanshi’s contribution, Sanju Samson’s team-first approach at No. 3 and India’s bowling effort in restricting New Zealand to below 200.
Calling Abhishek and Sooryavanshi a “devastating combination”, Yuvraj congratulated the team on the series victory.
India’s dominant win gave the visitors a 3-0 lead in the five-match series, with Abhishek’s breathtaking innings once again underlining his ability to turn a chase into a one-sided contest.
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