New Delhi: Abhishek Sharma and skipper Suryakumar Yadav starred with the bat as a dominant India hammered New Zealand by 8 wickets in the 3rd T20I at the Barsapara
Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday to clinch the five-match series with an unassailable 3-0 lead. Abhishek slammed the second-fastest fifty by an Indian in T20Is as the hosts made light work of the 154-run target to register a thumping victory.
Abhishek notched up a fifty off just 14 balls and finished with a sensational unbeaten 68 off just 20 balls to take India home comfortably with 60 balls to spare. He was well supported by skipper Suryakumar, who continued his fine form with 57 not out off just 26 balls. India bagged their ninth straight bilateral T20I series victory by sealing the ongoing T20I series against the Kiwis.
It was records galore for the hosts in Guwahati with their dominant series-clinching win in the third T20I. Suryakumar & Co. not only bagged their ninth bilateral T20I series but also extended their T20I series-winning streak to 11 overall, including the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Asia Cup last year. India equalled Pakistan’s record for most consecutive T20I series wins by a full-member nation.
Most consecutive T20I series wins (Full-member teams)
11* – India (2024 – ongoing, includes T20 World Cup 2024 and Asia Cup 2025)
11 – Pakistan (2016-18)
7 – India (2017-18)
6 – India (2019-21)
Having already broken Australia’s record for most consecutive T20I series wins at home after winning their last T20I series against South Africa, India further extended their winning streak. The Men in Blue have now won a record-extending ten consecutive T20I series at home, the most by any full-member nation in the format.
Most consecutive T20I series wins at home by full-member teams:
10 – India (2022-26) *
8 – Australia (2006-10)
7 – India (2019-22)
5 – Pakistan (2008-18)
India break West Indies’ record
India also broke West Indies’ record for winning with the most balls to spare against a full member nation while chasing a 150-plus target in T20Is. India’s victory with 60 balls to spare against New Zealand in the 3rd T20I on Sunday is the biggest margin in terms of balls spared in a 150-plus T20I chase against a full-member team.
India surpassed West Indies, who won with 37 balls to spare after chasing down a target of 164 runs in a T20I against South Africa in Kingston in 2024.
Winning with most balls to spare vs a full member team chasing 150+ targets
60 balls – India vs New Zealand, Guwahati 2026 *
37 balls – West Indies vs South Africa, Kingston 2024
33 balls – Eng vs Pakistan, Lahore 2022
32 balls – South Africa vs England, Joburg 2016
It was a commanding batting display from India as they continued their stellar run to continue warming up in style ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, starting February 07. After opener Sanju Samson departed on a duck on the first ball of the chase, Abhishek combined with Ishan Kishan to take the attack to the New Zealand bowlers, before joining hands with Suryakumar to finish off the chase in just 10 overs.
Abhishek added 53 runs for the second wicket with Kishan, who played a quickfire cameo of 28 off just 13 balls. Abhishek continued to maul the New Zealand bowling attack after Kishan’s departure, while racing to his fifty off just 14 balls. He shared an unbeaten stand of 102 runs for the third wicket to take India home.
