India clinched the five-match T20I series against New Zealand with two games to spare, winning the third T20I by six wickets in Wellington on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Abhishek Sharma starred with a blistering 113 off just 38 balls as India chased down New Zealand’s 198 for 3 in only 13.2 overs.
India had arrived in Wellington leading the series 2-0, after becoming the first team to win 200 men’s T20 internationals with a four-wicket victory in Christchurch. The first two matches of the series had both been won by identical four-wicket margins, but the third win was even more emphatic, sealed with more than six overs to spare.
Key Takeaways
- Abhishek Sharma smashed 113 off 38 balls, including nine fours and 11 sixes, as India chased 199 in just 13.2 overs.
- India’s powerplay score of 118 for no wicket was the highest powerplay total in men’s T20I history.
- The six-wicket win gave India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series against New Zealand.
A record powerplay sets up the chase
Chasing 199, Abhishek and teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made a mockery of the target from the very first over. Vaibhav smashed 45 off just 19 balls, and together the pair took India to 118 for no wicket at the end of the powerplay, the highest powerplay total in men’s T20I history.
Abhishek reached his fifty off 15 balls and his century off 35 balls, his fourth century in T20 internationals. His innings was studded with nine fours and 11 sixes, and by the time he departed, the result was long beyond doubt.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner praised the openers after the match, saying it was pretty tough to stop those guys when they are going, and that they showed how to bat in the powerplay.
Pretty tough to stop those guys when they are going.
Mitchell’s 89 in vain for New Zealand
Earlier, New Zealand had posted 198 for 3 after being invited to bat first. The Blackcaps were reduced to 6 for 1 in 1.2 overs, but Finn Allen and Daryl Mitchell launched a brilliant counter-attack to put India on the back foot. Allen fell for 40 off 25 balls, while Mitchell carried his innings deep, finishing unbeaten on 89 off 52 balls with five fours and five sixes. For India, Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 1 for 33.
- Abhishek Sharma: 113 off 38 balls, with nine fours and 11 sixes
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: 45 off just 19 balls
- India powerplay: 118 for 0, a men’s T20I record
- Daryl Mitchell: unbeaten 89 off 52 balls for New Zealand
- Result: India won by six wickets and lead the series 3-0
A series wrapped up in style
The win continues a remarkable run for Abhishek, who has now smashed nine T20I half-centuries in 20 balls or fewer, the most by any batter in history. After the match, former India batter Yuvraj Singh joked about his own famous 12-ball fifty from 2007, asking why his mentee could not match it. Abhishek laughed it off, saying such innings happen only once in a while and batters do not play for milestones.
It has also been a strong week for Indian sport, with PV Sindhu finishing runner-up at the French Open after a fighting final against world No. 1 An Se Young.
What to Watch Next
With the series already decided at 3-0, the remaining two matches give New Zealand a chance to restore some pride and India a chance to extend a dominant run. The focus will be on whether Abhishek can carry this form into the rest of the series, and whether New Zealand’s bowlers can find an answer to India’s explosive opening pair.