India did not just beat New Zealand in Guwahati; they dismantled the chase blueprint itself.
A target of 154, which normally invited calculation and caution, was reduced to a sprint as Abhishek Sharma produced
one of the most explosive T20I innings India has ever seen. His unbeaten 68 off just 20 balls powered India to the target with 60 deliveries to spare, sealing a 3-0 series lead and extending India's remarkable dominance in the format.
Abhishek Sharma makes historic innings in IND v NZ
Abhishek needed just 14 balls to reach his fifty, the second-fastest by an Indian in T20 internationals and the quickest ever against New Zealand. Only YuvrajSingh's iconic 12-ball half-century from the 2007 World T20 stands ahead of it.
This was also the third time Abhishek has brought up a fifty inside the powerplay, all coming within the last year. No other batter in men's T20Is has managed more powerplay fifties in the era of ball-by-ball data, underlining how consistently destructive his starts have become.
Even by elite standards, the strike rate metrics were startling. Abhishek did not face a single dot ball across his 20 deliveries, the highest score ever recorded in men's T20Is without a dot ball - and every over India played in the chase went for double digits, a first in the format for an innings lasting beyond five overs.
India's fastest team chase at home
India raced to 50 in just 3.1 overs, their fastest team fifty in T20 internationals. By the end of the powerplay, they were already 94 for 2, their second-highest powerplay score ever, trailing only the 95 for 1 they posted against England in Mumbai last year.
The chase itself now sits among the fastest in T20I history. Only Australia's pursuit of 155 against Scotland in 2024 was completed more quickly. India's finish with 60 balls remaining marked their biggest home win by balls to spare and handed New Zealand their heaviest T20I defeat in terms of unused deliveries.
Series dominance continues
Beyond the fireworks in Guwahati, the result carried deeper significance. The win gave India their 11th consecutive T20I series or tournament victory since 2024, matching the longest streak ever achieved in men's T20 internationals. It also extended their run of bilateral series without defeat to 12 straight, reinforcing India's grip on the format ahead of the T20 World Cup cycle.
This was not merely a chase executed well; it was a statement of intent. India didn't just manage the target; they erased it.
