Abhishek Sharma hits 35-ball century as India beat New Zealand to clinch series 3-0
Abhishek Sharma smashed 113 off 38 balls and India hit a record 118 without loss in the powerplay to chase 199 in 13.2 overs, beating New Zealand by six wickets in Wellington and sealing the five-match T20I series.
At a glance
- India beat New Zealand by six wickets in the 3rd T20I in Wellington on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, chasing 199 in just 13.2 overs with 40 balls to spare.
- Abhishek Sharma made 113 off 38 balls with 11 sixes and nine fours, reaching 50 in 15 balls and his century in 35 — his fourth T20I hundred.
- Abhishek and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (45 off 19) took India to 118 for 0 in the powerplay, the highest six-over total by a Full Member side in men's T20Is.
- Daryl Mitchell's unbeaten 89 off 52 balls had lifted New Zealand to 198 for 3; Kyle Jamieson took 2 wickets in the chase.
- India lead the five-match series 3-0 with games left in Auckland (Friday, Oct 30) and Hamilton (Sunday, Nov 1).
Abhishek Sharma struck a 35-ball century as India thrashed New Zealand by six wickets in the third T20 international in Wellington on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, chasing 199 in only 13.2 overs to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The left-hander made 113 off 38 balls, and India's opening stand with 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced a record 118 runs in the six-over powerplay.
Match summary
| Score | Overs | Top performers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 198/3 | 20 | Daryl Mitchell 89* (52), Finn Allen 40 (25), Bevon Jacobs 39 (23) |
| India | 199/4 | 13.2 | Abhishek Sharma 113 (38), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 45 (19) |
| Result | India won by 6 wickets (40 balls to spare) |
How the chase unfolded
Set 199 to win, India attacked from the first over. Abhishek reached his fifty in just 15 balls and kept clearing the boundary. Sooryavanshi, the teenager promoted to open, matched him with four sixes and four fours in a 19-ball 45. India were 118 for 0 after six overs, the highest powerplay total by a Full Member nation in men's T20Is, and 156 for 1 after eight.
Matthew Fisher finally broke the stand by removing Sooryavanshi in the eighth over, but Abhishek moved on to his hundred off 35 balls — his fourth T20I century and his 11th in all T20 cricket. His innings contained 11 sixes and nine fours before Kyle Jamieson dismissed him in the 11th over with India on the brink of victory at 178 for 2 after ten overs.
India lost Sanju Samson and captain Shreyas Iyer in a late wobble, with Jamieson finishing with two wickets and Mitchell Santner one, but the target was reached with 40 balls left. No New Zealand bowler went for less than 12 runs an over.
New Zealand's innings
Earlier, New Zealand lost Tim Seifert for 2 to Arshdeep Singh. Finn Allen then hit five sixes in a 25-ball 40 and added 86 for the second wicket with Daryl Mitchell before falling to Nitish Kumar Reddy. Glenn Phillips, playing his 100th T20I, made 17 before falling to Axar Patel in the 12th over. Mitchell and Bevon Jacobs then added 75 for the fourth wicket, with Mitchell finishing unbeaten on 89 off 52 balls and Jacobs making 39 off 23. Arshdeep, Axar and Reddy took one wicket each.
Background
India arrived in New Zealand for a five-match series after a home T20I series against the West Indies. They won a record chase of 226 in the first match in Christchurch, led by Samson's 67, and then edged the second game at Hagley Oval by four wickets thanks to an unbeaten stand between Tilak Varma and Reddy, despite Santner's 4 for 21. Tuesday's result was by far the most one-sided of the three.
Abhishek, 26, has become one of the most destructive openers in the format since his India debut in 2024. Sooryavanshi, still only 15, has drawn global attention since his record-breaking IPL century as a 14-year-old.
The view from both camps
India knocked off a near-200 target with almost seven overs to spare. New Zealand have now lost all three matches despite posting totals of 180 or more in two of them, and their bowling under pressure in the powerplay will be the main concern for Santner's side before the final two games.
Why it matters
The series win continues India's dominance in T20 cricket and gives the selectors more evidence that their young, aggressive top order can win matches away from home. For fans across South Asia, the Abhishek–Sooryavanshi pairing is becoming one of the most watched opening partnerships in the game. For New Zealand, the defeat ends their hopes in the series and raises questions about their death and powerplay bowling.
What happens next
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 4th T20I | Friday, October 30 | Auckland |
| 5th T20I | Sunday, November 1 | Hamilton |
With the series decided, India may rotate their squad for the last two matches, while New Zealand will be playing to avoid a 5-0 whitewash.
Questions people are asking
Who won the 3rd T20I between India and New Zealand?
India won by six wickets in Wellington on October 27, 2026, scoring 199 for 4 in 13.2 overs in reply to New Zealand's 198 for 3. The win gave India an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
How many balls did Abhishek Sharma take for his century against New Zealand?
Abhishek Sharma reached his hundred in 35 balls and was out for 113 off 38 balls, hitting 11 sixes and nine fours. It was his fourth century in T20 internationals.
When is the 4th T20I between India and New Zealand?
The 4th T20I is in Auckland on Friday, October 30, 2026, and the 5th and final match is in Hamilton on Sunday, November 1.
