Abhishek Sharma’s Nagpur Storm: World No. 1 Smashes Fastest Fifty VS NZ

NAGPUR, MAHARASHTRA — The world’s top-ranked T20I batter, Abhishek Sharma, turned the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium into his personal playground on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. In the opening match of the five-match series against New Zealand, the Punjab southpaw unleashed a masterclass in power-hitting, scoring 84 runs off just 35 balls.

Despite the early dismissals of Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, Abhishek’s relentless aggression ensured India maintained a run rate well above 10, setting a formidable tone for the home side’s T20 World Cup preparations.

1. Record-Breaking Blitz: Surpassing Rohit and KL Rahul

Abhishek’s innings was defined by its rapid start, specifically targeting the fastest milestone for an Indian against the BlackCaps.

• Fastest Fifty: He reached his half-century in just 22 balls, surpassing the previous record of 23 balls held jointly by KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma (set in 2020).
• The Slot-Hitter: His knock included 8 towering sixes and 5 fours. The eight maximums are the third-most by any player in a T20I against New Zealand, trailing only Richard Levi (13) and Kieron Pollard (9).
• Frequency King: This was Abhishek’s eighth T20I fifty-plus score in under 25 balls—a new world record, moving him past Phil Salt and Suryakumar Yadav (7 each).

2. The 5,000-Run Club: A Speed Milestone

During the course of his 84-run stay, Abhishek reached the 5,000-run mark in T20 cricket.

• Global Standing: He becomes the 131st player globally to reach the milestone.
• Efficiency: Among all batters with 5,000+ T20 runs, Abhishek now boasts the highest career strike rate (over 172), underscoring his unique “high-risk, high-reward” blueprint.
• Elite Indian Company: He is the fourth-fastest Indian to reach the mark (165 innings), trailing only KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Shubman Gill.

3. Match Momentum: The “SKY-Abhishek” Synergy

With India reeling at 27/2, Abhishek found a perfect foil in skipper Suryakumar Yadav.

• The Partnership: The duo stitched together a blistering 99-run stand for the third wicket.
• The Dismissal: Abhishek appeared destined for his third T20I century before mistiming a slot delivery from Ish Sodhi in the 12th over. The bat turned in his hand, resulting in a simple catch for Kyle Jamieson at long-on.
• The Finish: Following his departure, the middle order, led by Rinku Singh, looked to capitalize on the 149/4 platform established by the 12-over mark.

Abhishek Sharma vs NZ: Stats at a Glance