Abhishek Sharma started 2026 with a bang. Playing against New Zealand in the first T20I game of the series, he made an explosive 35-ball 84. His innings helped India take the lead in the five-match T20I series.
Abhishek had a fantastic 2025 as a batter in T20I cricket. Now, he is continuing with the same in 2026. In this innings, he hit eight sixes as India put up 238/7 in their 20 overs. It was their highest T20I score against New Zealand. In the chase, New Zealand fell short by 48 runs and lost the game.
India lost two wickets very early in the form of Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. However, Abhishek wasn’t put off by this as he hit four sixes inside the power play. Thanks to his innings, India made 68/2 inside the powerplay.
Suryakumar Yadav, looking for his form, started well and even played his trademark pick-up shot to clear the boundary in the early part of his innings.
Abhishek Sharma scored the quickfire fifty in just 20 balls. The batters, Abhishek and Surya, made a 99-run partnership before Surya’s dismissal in the 11th over. In the next over, Abhishek miscued one against Ish Sodhi and got out. After that, Hardik Pandya (32) and Rinku Singh (44) ensured that India reached a formidable total.
In response, New Zealand lost Devon Conway early on. In the next over, Rachin Ravindra nicked one to slip in the second over. Despite being two wickets down, New Zealand managed to reach 50 runs in the power play. Glenn Phillips tried his best to manage the required rate by hitting a few boundaries in the middle overs along with Mark Chapman.
Despite their best efforts, Indian bowlers Varun Chakaravarthy and Shivam Dube kept chipping in with wickets at regular intervals. In the end, Santner and Mitchell added a few more boundaries, but the required rate was high.
