Abhishek Sharma records: Full list of milestones after 35-ball hundred

Abhishek Sharma’s 35-Ball Century Powers India to T20I Victory Over New Zealand

Abhishek Sharma delivered another extraordinary display of power hitting, smashing a 35-ball century to lead India to a six-wicket win over New Zealand in the third T20I at Wellington’s Hnry Stadium. Chasing a target of 199, the left-handed opener made 113 from just 38 deliveries, striking nine fours and 11 sixes as India completed the chase with authority.

The innings was a statement of intent from the first over. Abhishek reached his half-century in only 15 balls, keeping the required rate under control while putting New Zealand’s bowlers on the defensive. His rapid scoring turned a demanding chase into a contest India could dictate, and gave the visitors a decisive advantage in the five-match series.

A Record-Breaking Knock in Wellington

Abhishek’s century arrived in 35 balls, making it one of the fastest hundreds by an Indian batter in men’s T20I cricket. He matched Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball century against Sri Lanka in 2017, while Abhishek’s own 30-ball hundred against Afghanistan remains the fastest by an Indian in the format.

The Wellington performance also continued a remarkable run of big scores in T20 cricket. Abhishek has built a reputation for attacking early, but this innings showed more than raw power: he read the match situation, targeted scoring opportunities and maintained the pace of the chase without allowing the required rate to become a concern.

For New Zealand, the challenge was not simply to contain one batter. Abhishek’s aggressive approach forced the bowlers to alter their lengths and fields, creating opportunities for India to keep scoring even when the boundary was not available. His 11 sixes were central to the chase, but his ability to find the gaps helped make the innings so effective.

Fastest T20I Centuries Against Full Member Teams

Abhishek’s 35-ball effort places him among the fastest century-makers in T20Is against Full Member nations. The list highlights how exceptional the Wellington innings was, while also underlining the speed of his earlier record-setting hundred.

• 30 balls: Abhishek Sharma vs Afghanistan
• 33 balls: Finn Allen vs South Africa
• 35 balls: Abhishek Sharma vs New Zealand
• 35 balls: David Miller vs Bangladesh
• 35 balls: Rohit Sharma vs Sri Lanka
• 37 balls: Abhishek Sharma vs England
• 37 balls: Tim David vs West Indies

These performances reflect the increasingly attacking nature of T20 cricket, where batters are expected to score quickly from the outset. Abhishek’s ability to reach a hundred in so few deliveries places him firmly among the format’s most explosive players.

Abhishek’s Powerplay Record and Six-Hitting Impact

Abhishek has also established himself as one of India’s most destructive powerplay batters. He now occupies the top two positions on the list of the highest powerplay scores by an Indian in T20I cricket, a testament to his willingness to take on the new ball rather than wait for the innings to develop.

That approach carries risk, but it can create a major advantage when it works. A fast start puts pressure on the opposition captain, limits the options available to bowlers and gives the middle order a more favourable platform. In Wellington, Abhishek’s early assault helped India stay ahead of the chase from the beginning.

His 11 sixes were the second-highest total by an Indian in a T20I innings. Abhishek still holds the national record with 13 sixes against England at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. His Wellington total was level with his 11 sixes against Afghanistan in Delhi, while several other Indian batters have reached 10 sixes in a T20I innings.

The performance also brought a light-hearted reaction from former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, who has previously joked about Abhishek’s rapid scoring. Yuvraj remains famous for his own remarkable 12-ball T20I half-century against England in Durban in 2007.

India’s Fastest T20I Half-Centuries

Abhishek’s 15-ball fifty in Wellington ranks among India’s quickest half-centuries in men’s T20Is. The national record remains with Yuvraj, whose 12-ball fifty remains one of the most iconic bursts of hitting in the game.

• 12 balls: Yuvraj Singh vs England, Durban, 2007
• 14 balls: Abhishek Sharma vs New Zealand, Guwahati
• 15 balls: Shivam Dube vs New Zealand, Visakhapatnam
• 15 balls: Abhishek Sharma vs New Zealand, Wellington
• 16 balls: Hardik Pandya vs South Africa, Ahmedabad

Surpassing Virat Kohli’s T20 Century Record

Abhishek’s latest hundred also strengthened his standing in T20 cricket overall. He has now recorded 11 centuries in the format, moving ahead of Virat Kohli’s 10. The milestone is particularly striking given Abhishek’s age and the speed with which he has established himself as a major force in the shortest format.

In T20I cricket, his Wellington hundred was his fourth, placing him alongside Phil Salt and Suryakumar Yadav in the group of players with four centuries. Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell remain at the top of that list with five each.

These numbers offer a useful measure of Abhishek’s impact, but his value to India extends beyond records. His attacking style gives the team a way to put opponents under immediate pressure, especially in high-scoring matches where a brisk powerplay can shape the entire chase.

What Abhishek’s Form Means for India

India’s successful pursuit of 199 will encourage the team as the T20I series continues. A target near 200 can test even a strong batting line-up, but Abhishek’s innings showed how quickly the equation can change when an opener makes full use of the powerplay. His performance also gives India a clear tactical option: attack early, force the opposition to defend, and keep the chase moving at a demanding pace.

The next prediction for India’s batting approach will naturally centre on whether Abhishek can maintain this extraordinary level of form. T20 cricket is unpredictable, and even the most accomplished hitters face difficult spells. Still, his recent record suggests he can change a match in a handful of overs—and that makes him one of the most compelling players to watch in the series.

For New Zealand, the priority will be finding ways to disrupt his rhythm, whether through variations, tighter field settings or early wickets. For India, the challenge is to build on the momentum without relying on one batter alone. In Wellington, however, Abhishek Sharma made the difference unmistakable: a 35-ball century, a successful chase and another landmark night in an already remarkable T20 career.