Abhishek, Vaibhav put India at 118 without loss in powerplay, a T20I record, against New Zealand

India's openers tore into the New Zealand bowling in the third match of the ongoing T20 series in Wellington and set a new record. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, given the chance to open the innings, stayed unbeaten on 44, while Abhishek Sharma remained not out on 67. The pair put the New Zealand bowlers under pressure from the very first ball.

Their blistering batting took India to 118 in the powerplay, the highest powerplay score in Indian cricket history. India reached the total on Tuesday against New Zealand without losing a wicket, surpassing the marks of several teams.

The previous record belonged to Romania, who made 116 not out in 5.4 overs against Serbia in 2021. Australia followed in 2024 with 113 for one against Scotland in Edinburgh. Earlier this year, India made 100 not out in the powerplay against Afghanistan in Delhi, a record that they have now surpassed themselves.

India also set a record for the fastest team hundred. On Tuesday, the side reached 100 in just the fifth over against New Zealand. Romania had scored 100 in 5.2 overs against Serbia. In 2023, South Africa reached the mark in 5.3 overs against the West Indies, Australia did so in 5.3 overs against Scotland, Zimbabwe in 5.5 overs against Gambia and England in 5.5 overs against South Africa. India's record will now be broken only if a team makes 100 in 4.5 overs.

Abhishek completed his fifty against New Zealand in just 15 balls. Earlier this year in Guwahati, he had hit a fifty off 14 balls, also against New Zealand. Abhishek is now third on the list of the fastest fifties. Ahead of him are all-rounder Yuvraj Singh (12 balls) and Colin Munro (14 balls).

In this way, in the Wellington match the opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Suryavanshi put India's name in the record books for both the powerplay score and the fastest hundred.