Abhishek Sharma may have just torn the New Zealand bowling attack to shreds, but in the eyes of his mentor Yuvraj Singh, there is still one “impossible” peak left to climb. After Abhishek powered India to a crushing eight-wicket victory and a 3-0 series lead on Sunday, the legendary all-rounder took to social media to remind the youngster exactly who still wears the crown.
Mentor Yuvraj teases Abhishek Sharma
As Abhishek brought up his half-century in just 14 balls at the Barsapara Stadium, he officially claimed the record for the fastest T20I fifty by an Indian opener. However, he fell just two balls short of Yuvraj’s iconic 12-ball world record set against England in 2007.
Not one to let a moment of glory pass without a cheeky jab, Yuvraj posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“Still can’t get a 50 off 12 balls, can you? Well played- keep going strong!”
Abhishek, who has often credited Yuvraj for his aggressive “see ball, hit ball” mindset, responded with equal humility and humor. “That’s more than impossible for anyone,” the 25-year-old told broadcasters. “But you never know, it’s going to be fun trying.”
Statistical carnage: Abhishek’s record-breaking night
While he didn’t catch Yuvraj, Abhishek’s innings was a masterclass in modern T20 hitting. Here is a breakdown of the records that tumbled in Guwahati:
The 14-Ball blitz: Abhishek smashed 7 boundaries and 5 sixes, finishing on an unbeaten 68 off just 20 balls*.
Zero Dot balls: His entire 68-run knock featured zero dot balls, the highest such score in T20I history for a full-member nation.
Six-hitting King: He surpassed KL Rahul to become India’s second-highest six-hitter among openers, trailing only Rohit Sharma.
Consistency: This was Abhishek’s 9th T20I fifty in 25 balls or less, moving him past Suryakumar Yadav (8) for the most such knocks by an Indian.
Series sealed: India’s 11th straight home win
The victory ensures India has now won 11 consecutive T20I series at home, a world record for Full-Member nations. Chasing 154, the pair of Abhishek and Suryakumar Yadav (57* off 26) made a mockery of the target, wrapping up the chase in just 10 overs.
The Men in Blue now head to Visakhapatnam for the 4th T20I on Wednesday, looking to complete a whitewash as they enter the final week of preparation for the T20 World Cup starting February 7.