Abhishek Sharma slams fastest T20I fifty by an Indian against New Zealand, achieves multiple feats

Team India star Abhishek Sharma continued his sensational run in T20Is with a stunning 84-run knock of 35 balls in the first T20I against New Zealand at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur on Wednesday. The explosive left-hander notched up a fifty off just 22 balls to notch up the fastest fifty by an Indian against the Kiwis in T20Is.

Abhishek achieved multiple feats with his cracking 34-ball 85, which was laced with a staggering eight sixes and five fours. The swashbuckling left-hander took the New Zealand bowlers to the cleaners, smashing them all around the park to provide the hosts with a strong start after they were asked to bat first in the game.

India lost opener Sanju Samson (10) and returning Ishan Kishan (8) in quick succession, but Abhishek remained unfazed under pressure as he hammered the New Zealand bowlers, batting in his natural attacking style. Abhishek raced to his fifty off just 22 balls and finished with a cracking 84, missing out on a well-deserved ton.

Abhishek's 22-ball fifty in the first T20I against New Zealand on Wednesday was the fastest by an Indian against the Kiwis in the shortest format. He broke the previous record held jointly by KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, who notched up a fifty off 23 balls each.

Abhishek also surpassed England star Phil Salt on the elite list of batters to have smashed a fifty in 25 or fewer deliveries the most times in T20Is. The Indian opener has achieved the feat as many as eight times, going past Salt, who has scored seven fifties in 25 or fewer balls in T20Is in his career so far.

Reaching 50 in 25 or fewer balls most times in T20Is:

8 - Abhishek Sharma

7 - Phil Salt

7 - Suryakumar Yadav

7 - Evin Lewis

Abhishek also completed the milestone of 5,000 runs in T20 cricket en route to his 84-run knock in the 1st T20I against New Zealand. The left-hander now has 5002 runs in 169 matches at a strike rate of over 170 in his T20 career so far.

Add TV9 English As A Trusted Source

Thanks to Abhishek's quickfire 84 and vital contributions from skipper Suryakumar Yadav (32), Hardik Pandya (25) and Rinku Singh (44*), India posted a huge total of 238/7 in 20 overs in the 1st T20I against New Zealand at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur on Wednesday.

Abhishek shared a 99-run stand for the third wicket with Suryakumar to get India's innings back on track after New Zealand struck twice early in the Powerplay. After the duo's departure, Hardik and Rinku combined to add the finishing touches and propel India past the 230-run mark.