In a brilliant display of powerful hitting at the Barsapara Stadium, Abhishek Sharma On 25 January 2026, he entered the record books during his third T20I against New Zealand. Chasing 154, the young southpaw turned the game into a personal highlight reel from the outset.
His attack reached a crescendo in the 6th match Jacob DuffyAs he raced to a 14-ball fifty studded with five boundaries and four powerful sixes. Reaching the landmark in just 14 deliveries, Sharma has officially moved into second place on the list of fastest T20I half-centuries by an Indian. He now sits behind only the legendary Yuvraj Singhfurther cementing his status as a modern-day great in the game’s shortest format.
Abhishek Sharma’s devastating knock broke the record in the 3rd T20I against New Zealand
Abhishek’s performance in Guwahati was nothing short of a demolition job as he dismantled the New Zealand bowling attack with surgical precision. After a series of high-scoring innings, Abhishek entered the crease and immediately made his intentions known despite losing Sanju Samson for a golden duck at the other end. He especially liked his speed Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson, using his signature bat speed to clear the ropes with ease and hit a half-century in the final over of the power play. This 14-ball feat is not only his personal best but also the fastest fifty recorded against New Zealand in T20I history. By the time he was done, he had given India their second-highest powerplay score ever, ensuring that the chase of 154 was a mere formality and sending the Kiwis’ bowlers into an absolute state of shock.
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Elite Top 5: Fastest fifties against full member teams
- 12 balls – Yuvraj Singh (India vs England, 2007): The undisputed gold standard of T20 cricket. In the first T20 World Cup in Durban, Yuvraj was famously smashed Stuart Broad for six sixes to reach his fifty in just 12 balls. It remains the fastest half-century ever recorded by a player from a Full Member country and is arguably the most significant moment in the history of the format.
- 13 balls – Ian Frylinck (Namibia vs Zimbabwe, 2025): A historic moment for Associate cricket, Frylinck stunned Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. Encouraged to open, he unleashed a barrage of counter-borders Trevor Gwandu and Blessed MuzarabaniHe reached the stage with 13 balls. This is the fastest fifty scored by an Associate player against a Full Member team.
- 14 balls – Abhishek Sharma (India vs New Zealand, 2026): In the series-deciding third T20I in Guwahati, Abhishek delivered the performance of a lifetime. Reaching his fifty in just 14 balls, he equaled the third-fastest mark globally and became the second-fastest Indian to reach the milestone, behind only Yuvraj’s legendary 2007 effort.
- 14 balls – Colin Munro (New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, 2016): Playing at Eden Park, Munro destroyed the Sri Lankan attack in a chase of 142. He needed just 14 balls to reach his fifty, seven sixes and just one four. It remains the fastest half-century by a New Zealander and ranks second for a Full Member in a decade.
- 15 balls – Quinton de Kock (South Africa vs West Indies, 2023): De Kock set the tone with 15-ball fifties in a record-breaking match at Centurion in which South Africa chased down 259. His clinical opening attack helped the Proteas reach 100 in just 5.3 overs, proving his status as one of the most devastating wickets the game has ever seen.
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