India defeated New Zealand by six wickets at Sky Stadium in Wellington to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20I series, with two matches remaining.
Chasing a challenging target of 199, India produced a stunning batting performance, reaching 202/4 in just 13.2 overs, powered by a sensational century from Abhishek Sharma.
The left-handed opener smashed 113 off just 38 balls, striking 11 sixes and powering India’s chase with a breathtaking display of power-hitting. The innings marked his fourth T20I century and took him past Virat Kohli’s record for the most centuries by an Indian in the overall T20 format, according to the match details provided.
Abhishek found an explosive partner in fellow opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the duo dismantled the New Zealand bowling attack. India raced to a world-record 118 runs in the powerplay, setting the tone for a dominant chase.
Earlier, New Zealand had posted a formidable total, thanks largely to Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 89 off 52 deliveries. His innings gave the hosts a competitive score of 198, but India’s aggressive response left the New Zealand bowlers with little room to recover.
With the emphatic victory, India secured the series with two matches still to play, underlining their batting firepower ahead of the remaining fixtures.
