Abhishek Sharma Blazes to 14-Ball Fifty: India's Second-Fastest T20I Half-Century Against New Zealand

In a stunning display of aggressive batting that left New Zealand bowlers shell-shocked, Abhishek Sharma etched his name into Indian cricket history by scoring the country's second-fastest half-century in T20 International cricket. The electrifying knock came during India's chase of 154 in the third T20I at Guwahati on Sunday night.

The Record-Breaking Knock

Abhishek's 14-ball fifty surpassed teammate Hardik Pandya's previous record of 16 balls against South Africa, set just last month. The young opener now sits behind only his mentor Yuvraj Singh, whose legendary 12-ball fifty against England in 2007—featuring six consecutive sixes off Stuart Broad—remains the benchmark for Indian batters.

For context, the fastest T20I fifty overall belongs to Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee, who achieved the feat in just nine balls against Mongolia during the Asian Games 2023.

Batting Masterclass: Shot by Shot

Abhishek's intent was clear from ball one. Dancing down the track on his first delivery in the second over, he launched an 88-meter monster six on the leg side, immediately signaling his destructive intentions.

The Carnage Unfolds

• Over 2: Opened with a massive six, closed with an upper cut for four off Jacob Duffy
• Over 3: Made room on consecutive deliveries for a four and a six
• Over 4: Reached 23 off just six balls, ending with a boundary over Ish Sodhi's head
• Over 5: Pulled Matt Henry's short ball for his third six
• Over 6: Went 4, 1, 4, 6 to complete his half-century

The powerplay concluded with India at 94—their second-highest powerplay score in men's T20Is, trailing only the 95 for 1 against England at Wankhede last year.

Abhishek's Match-Winning Contribution

The opener finished with an unbeaten 68 off just 20 balls, decorated with seven boundaries and five maximums, as India cruised to an emphatic eight-wicket victory.

In His Own Words

Reflecting on his explosive approach, Abhishek shared his mindset:

"I've said it before as well, that's what my team wants from me, and I just want to execute all the time. But obviously it's not easy to do it every time, but I think it's all about mental as well and the atmosphere you get around your dressing room as well."

On his aggressive first-ball approach, he explained:

"I wouldn't say like it's like I want to go from the first ball. It's just the instinct I get in the wickets. I think about the bowler, if he wants to get me out on the first ball then what he would bowl to me and that's always there in my mind and I just want to play on that ball."

Chasing Yuvraj's Legacy

When asked about surpassing Yuvraj Singh's record, Abhishek remained humble yet optimistic:

"I mean that's more than impossible for anyone. But still, you never know. Any batsman could do it because I think all the batters they're batting really well in the series as well, and going forward it's going to be fun."

The Bigger Picture: India's Dominant Series

This knock follows Abhishek's similarly aggressive start in the series opener at Nagpur on January 21, establishing him as one of T20 cricket's most dangerous openers when in full flow.

Looking Ahead

Abhishek Sharma's continued evolution as a power-hitter at the top of the order gives India a formidable weapon in the shortest format. His ability to take the game away from oppositions within the powerplay adds a new dimension to India's already potent batting lineup. With form like this, the young left-hander is making a compelling case for a permanent spot in India's T20I setup heading into future tournaments.