India’s maiden T20 International encounter against the New Zealand cricket team turned out to be a record-shattering night, thanks largely to Abhishek Sharma’s extraordinary batting display and many first-of-their-kind accomplishments.
Abhishek Sharma broke the record of Andre Russell, who scored 5,000 T20 runs in 2,942 balls, and he achieved this record in 2,898 balls only.
Another record which makes this achievement extra special for Abhishek Sharma is, he is the only batter who scored 5,000 T20 runs with an average strike rate of 160 or above.
Abhishek broke yet another record with this strike, which is joint with Saudi Arabia’s Faisal Khan, in scoring his seventh T20I fifty in less than 25 balls in men’s international T20 matches. Similarly, cricketers Evin Lewis, Rohit Sharma, Phil Salt, and Surya are not far behind with six fifties each.
Abhishek reached his half-century in 22 balls in Nagpur. This is the fastest Indian batter to reach a fifty while playing against the Kiwis in a men’s T20I. The previous best was 23 balls, achieved by KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma in 2020 while touring New Zealand. India scored 238/7, their highest ever in a T20I game and the third highest in T20Is played against the Black Caps in the men’s format.
Rinku Singh once again proved to be an impressive finisher. His strike rate in the 19th and 20th overs remains an astonishing 287.83, hitting 213 runs from just 74 balls. Even in the 20th over, Rinku Singh has a strike rate of 302.63, behind only Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee.
With the ball as well, Arshdeep Singh has dominated the game by claiming 28 wickets while opening the bowling spell, the most by a player in the T20I of the men’s format.
Nagpur T20 International – a win so chock-full of hitting prowess, records, and domination – epitomizes India’s ever-growing strength in Twenty-Twenty cricket.
