Abhishek Sharma 35 Ball Century quickly became one of the top cricket stories after the Indian opener tore into New Zealand in the third T20I on October 27, 2026. He made 113 runs off 38 balls and pushed India to 199 in 13.2 overs during the chase. With this knock, India won by six wickets and took a firm 3-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
The left-hander showed big intent from the first ball. He mixed hard hitting with clean timing and reached his hundred in just 35 deliveries. His boundary work came fast, and the innings also fit well with a quick spell from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Together, they helped India post a new men’s T20I powerplay mark.
Abhishek Sharma 35 Ball Century: Match Overview
New Zealand vs India, 3rd T20I
New Zealand: 198/3 (20 overs)
India: 199/4 (13.2 overs)
Result: India won by 6 wickets
Venue: Wellington, New Zealand
Abhishek Sharma: 113 (38 balls)
Century in: 35 balls
Series status: India up 3-0
India needed 199 to win. The chase turned rough for New Zealand early. Abhishek kept firing at the start, and the run rate never really settled into a safe zone for the bowlers.
For readers who want the full match story, you can also read our related article on India vs New Zealand 3rd T20I Highlights 2026 and link it to the match report section on your website after the article URL is ready.
How Abhishek Sharma Shaped His Century
Abhishek’s innings relied on bold cricket. Instead of giving New Zealand time, he kept looking to score as soon as the overs began. He used his ability to hit the ball hard and to find gaps, which made it hard for the hosts to slow things down.
He reached fifty off only 15 balls. After that, he kept finding boundaries, and he made his Abhishek Sharma 35 Ball Century deliveries. Later, he closed the innings with 113 runs in 38 balls, hitting nine fours and 11 sixes.
That innings is one reason many fans see him as a major threat in T20 cricket. He can go after pace and spin alike, and his pressure builds from the start.
Key statistics from the innings
- Runs: 113
- Balls faced: 38
- Time to fifty: 15 balls
- Time to century: 35 balls
- Fours: 9
- Sixes: 11
- Strike rate: 297.36
His strike rate of 297.36 shows how fast he scored, close to three runs for every ball he faced. Boundaries and sixes did most of the work, and India still had overs in hand when the chase wrapped up.
Abhishek Sharma Makes Fresh T20I Marks
Abhishek Sharma’s 35-ball hundred mattered because it steered India to a win. It also brought multiple new items to his stats.
- Quickest T20I century vs New Zealand
Abhishek reached the hundred in 35 balls. This set a new best time for a century against New Zealand in men’s T20I cricket. He beat the prior 42-ball mark linked to Ishan Kishan from earlier in 2026.
It showed he can change a chase fast and push the game ahead in a short spell.
- A fourth T20I century for him
That knock in Wellington was Abhishek’s fourth century in T20I cricket. After the game, reports said it also lifted his overall T20I century count to 11.
T20 matches offer fewer overs, so a batter must score quickly and still keep going long enough to matter.
- India’s standout powerplay score
Abhishek and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi helped India get going in strong fashion. During the powerplay, India made 118 runs and did not lose a wicket. This became a new record for the top powerplay total in men’s T20 internationals.
The first stand put New Zealand on the back foot right away. New Zealand bowlers had trouble keeping steady plans, and the Indian batters made the most of chances.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Backs Abhishek With a Quick Lift
Abhishek looked like the main man, but Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had a key part too. He made 45 runs off 19 balls. That quick spell kept India moving well in the first overs.
Two left-hand batters took on New Zealand early. The pressure built fast. Even after Sooryavanshi got out, their start had already changed how the chase would go. India did not have to chase 199 at the usual pace.
This knock also shows why an attacking opening pair matters. If one batter goes after the bowlers, the other can keep the tempo up. There is less room for mistakes, and loose balls get punished.
How India Got to 199 in 13.2 Overs
New Zealand put up 198/3 in 20 overs. Daryl Mitchell made 89 not out off 52 balls. Finn Allen made 40 as well. So the hosts were still in the game with a solid score.
India’s reply was much sharper. Abhishek and Sooryavanshi took control right away. Runs came in fast, and the target shrank quickly. After Sooryavanshi was out, Abhishek kept going until he was finally dismissed for 113.
India finished on 199/4 in 13.2 overs, winning by six wickets. The win put India up 3–0 in the five-match series. With two games left, the series result was already in India’s favor.
The match also made one thing clear. It is one thing to set a target. It is another to see how it looks when the other team bats. New Zealand made close to 200, yet India turned it into a smaller total than expected.
Why Abhishek Sharma’s batting approach clicks in T20
Abhishek’s innings has a lot to learn from. It shows how modern T20 games are won.
Going for runs early
He did not sit back and wait. From the first over, he aimed for boundaries. That pressure made New Zealand alter their plans.
Six-hitting that actually clears the ground
He struck 11 sixes. That is proof he can hit through the field. In T20, big shots help a batter pile up runs faster, without needing constant running.
Back-and-forth pressure on the bowling team
When one batter keeps scoring quickly, the captain has to react. Lengths change, fielders come in or go out, and gaps can appear elsewhere for other batters to exploit.
Help from the other end
Sooryavanshi also scored fast. New Zealand could not focus on only one batter. With two batters moving the chase along, the task becomes tougher.
All these points add up to why an innings like Abhishek Sharma’s 35-ball century can matter more than the total on its own.
What the century signals for Indian cricket
This knock boosts Abhishek’s image as a hitter who can turn a match in a short time. His 35-ball century versus New Zealand also shows how taking the aggressive route can turn a tough chase into a smoother one.
Still, one great day is not a full guarantee. He will need steady results against different bowling attacks. He has to read the pitch, and pick shots well when the pressure rises.
For India, this also points to strong attacking depth in T20. Young players like Sooryavanshi are adding impact, not just relying on the more senior names. That gives the team more ways to start fast.
The third T20I will stand out for Abhishek’s century, Sooryavanshi’s quick runs, and India’s powerplay that went above expectations. It was a clear win that sealed the series and gave one of the best batting displays of the tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many balls did Abhishek Sharma face to reach his century?
Abhishek Sharma got to his century off 35 balls versus New Zealand in the third T20I on October 27, 2026.
- How many runs did Abhishek Sharma make?
He finished with 113 runs in 38 balls. He hit nine fours and 11 sixes.
- Who won the India vs New Zealand 3rd T20I in 2026?
India won by six wickets. They chased New Zealand’s 198/3 in 13.2 overs.
This win put India 3–0 up in the five-match series.
- What record did India set in that match?
India made 118 runs in the powerplay without losing any wicket. That was a new men’s T20I record for the highest powerplay score at the time.
- What did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi do in the game?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 45 runs from 19 balls. He helped Abhishek Sharma start the chase strongly.
Abhishek Sharma’s 35-ball hundred versus New Zealand stood out. It was a loud T20 display, full of aggressive hitting and calm decision-making.
He made 113 runs off 38 balls. India chased 199 and finished with a six-wicket win in the third T20I.
Conclusion
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also contributed with fast runs. Still, it was Abhishek’s innings that drew the most attention and gave fans a proper highlight.
With this result, India’s edge in the series looked stronger. It also showed how fast Abhishek is becoming a key name in T20 cricket.
Now everyone will watch the next games. The big question is whether he can keep the same rhythm.
