CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 27: India created a new world record in Twenty20 international cricket on Tuesday, reaching 100 runs in just five overs during the third T20I against New Zealand, with Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi producing an extraordinary opening assault.
Chasing New Zealand's target of 199, the Indian openers attacked from the beginning, bringing up the team's fifty in only 2.2 overs before reaching the hundred-run mark at the end of the fifth over.
The achievement made India the fastest team in T20I history to score 100 runs, surpassing Romania's previous record of 5.2 overs against Serbia in Sofia in 2021.
Abhishek led the charge with a half-century off just 15 deliveries, while Sooryavanshi maintained the pressure on New Zealand's bowlers from the other end.
India's opening partnership immediately put the hosts under pressure, with the visitors scoring at an unprecedented rate during the first five overs of their chase.
The record-breaking performance came in the third match of the five-game T20I series, after India had won the opening two encounters.
India's fifty in 2.2 overs also equalled the overall record for the fastest team fifty in T20 internationals, previously achieved by Papua New Guinea against Vanuatu in 2019 and Romania against Serbia in 2021.
The mark represents the fastest team fifty by a Test-playing nation, improving on the previous record of 2.4 overs shared by New Zealand and South Africa.
New Zealand had reached fifty in 2.4 overs against Scotland in 2009 and England in 2019, while South Africa matched that figure against the West Indies in Centurion in 2023.
India's achievement was even more significant when the team crossed 100 in exactly 30 legal deliveries.
Romania had previously held the overall record, reaching the milestone in 32 balls against Serbia. Among Test-playing nations, South Africa had been the quickest, scoring 100 in 5.3 overs against the West Indies in 2023.
Australia subsequently matched South Africa's 5.3-over mark against Scotland in Edinburgh in 2024.
Zimbabwe and England had also recorded rapid team hundreds, reaching the landmark in 5.5 overs against Gambia in 2024 and South Africa in 2025, respectively.
India's performance moved the record beyond all those efforts, establishing a new benchmark for attacking batting in international cricket.
The partnership between Abhishek and Sooryavanshi was particularly notable because it came during a run chase rather than in an innings where the batting side could set a total without the pressure of a target.
New Zealand had posted 198 for three in their allotted 20 overs, setting India a challenging target of 199.
Instead of beginning cautiously, the Indian openers immediately attacked the bowling, ensuring that the required run rate fell sharply during the opening stages.
Abhishek's 15-ball fifty was central to that approach, while Sooryavanshi's contribution prevented New Zealand from concentrating its bowling plans on one batter.
The innings demonstrated India's aggressive batting approach in T20 cricket, where maximising scoring opportunities during the six-over powerplay has become an increasingly important part of match strategy.
By reaching 100 before the powerplay had even ended, India had already scored more than half the required runs with 15 overs still available.
The record also came against an established international opponent, distinguishing the achievement from several previous entries on the fastest-hundred list that involved emerging cricket nations.
India entered the Christchurch encounter with a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, having won both previous games by four wickets.
The opening T20I saw India successfully chase New Zealand's 225 for four, reaching 230 for six in 19.4 overs.
In the second match, India chased down 181 with one delivery remaining, finishing on 181 for six after New Zealand had made 180 for five.
The third match continued the series' pattern of aggressive batting and high-scoring contests.
India's latest record sets a new standard for the fastest team hundred in T20 internationals and adds another milestone to the country's recent performances in the shortest format.
