It wasn't just a century. It was a massacre. Abhishek Sharma walked into the Wellington Boxing Day-like atmosphere (okay, it was Tuesday, but the vibe was there) and obliterated New Zealand's attack with 113 off just 38 balls. The left-hander didn't just score; he dismantled. India chased 199 in 13.2 overs, sealing a six-wicket victory that locks in a 3-0 series lead. There is no coming back from that. The series is effectively over, and India is flying.
The numbers? Absurd. Abhishek and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who added 45 off 19, combined for 118 runs without losing a wicket in the first six overs. That is a new world record for the highest powerplay total in men's T20Is. They didn't just start the chase; they finished it before the middle overs even began. Sooryavanshi was electric, but Abhishek was the one holding the bat over his head, having reached his fifty in 15 balls and his hundred in 35.
Post-match, Abhishek was philosophical about the "manifestation" of the innings. He credited the coaching staff for drilling sidearm bowling and exploiting the short square boundaries at Wellington. "We were observing the pitch... we could use the powerplay," he said. It’s a reminder that these explosions aren't magic. They’re math, muscle memory, and a clear plan to punish pace. The preparation was meticulous, and it showed in every boundary.
The funniest part? Yuvraj Singh got involved. The former all-rounder took to X to taunt Abhishek about Yuvraj's own record of 50 off 12 balls. "You still can’t get 50 off 12, can you?" Yuvraj wrote, sparking a playful exchange. Abhishek conceded the feat is rare, but pointed out that the goal is winning games, not chasing individual milestones. Yuvraj eventually caved, praising the "great innings" and the team's dominance.
India now holds an unassailable lead. The remaining two matches are formalities, but the message is clear: this team is built to dominate from the first ball. Next up, they stay in New Zealand to complete the sweep, likely with a rested XI, but the shadow of Abhishek's 113 will loom large over the remainder of the tour.