Wellington, October 27(HS): India opener Abhishek Sharma achieved another significant milestone in T20 cricket on Tuesday, surpassing Virat Kohli to become the Indian batter with the most centuries in the format. Sharma reached the landmark with a blistering 113 off just 38 balls against New Zealand in the third T20 International, striking nine fours and 11 sixes at an extraordinary strike rate of 297.37.

With this innings, Sharma took his tally to 11 centuries in T20 cricket, moving ahead of Kohli, who has scored 10. Globally, only West Indies great Chris Gayle, with 22 centuries, and Pakistan batter Babar Azam, with 13, have scored more T20 hundreds than Sharma, who has risen to third place on the all-time list.

Sharma has also taken his tally of centuries in T20 Internationals to four. He is among the leading century-makers in the format, alongside Suryakumar Yadav and England’s Phil Salt, who have also scored four hundreds each. Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and former India captain Rohit Sharma lead the list with five centuries apiece.

Sharma has so far played 70 T20 Internationals, batting in 69 innings and scoring 2,240 runs at an average of 33.43 and a strike rate of 196.83. His record includes four centuries and 14 half-centuries, with a highest score of 135.

He has been particularly prolific this year, accumulating 1,125 runs in 37 T20 Internationals at an average of 31.25 and a strike rate of 206.42. During this period, he has scored two centuries and eight half-centuries, with his highest score standing at 113.

Sharma now needs 40 more runs to break the record for the most runs scored by an Indian batter in T20 Internationals in a calendar year. Suryakumar Yadav currently holds the record, having scored 1,164 runs in 2022.

Sharma has also established himself as one of the most destructive six-hitters in T20 cricket. He has struck 10 or more sixes in a single T20 International innings on seven occasions, with only Gayle having achieved the feat more frequently, doing so 18 times.

In the broader T20 format, Sharma has reportedly struck 10 or more sixes in an innings on three occasions, compared with Gayle’s two. Austria’s Karanbir Singh leads this particular list, having achieved the feat five times.

Sharma has also become the third Indian batter to hit 150 sixes in T20 Internationals. His tally now stands at 158, placing him behind Suryakumar Yadav, with 179, and Rohit Sharma, who leads the Indian list with 205 sixes.

India won the toss and elected to bowl first in the third T20 International. New Zealand posted 198 for three in their allotted 20 overs, thanks largely to an unbeaten 89 from Daryl Mitchell.

Mitchell scored 89 off 52 balls, hitting five fours and five sixes. Bevon Jacobs provided valuable support with an unbeaten 39 off 23 balls, including four boundaries and a six.

Finn Allen contributed 40 off 25 deliveries and shared an 86-run partnership for the second wicket with Mitchell. Glenn Phillips was dismissed for 17 off 14 balls. For India, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy claimed one wicket each.

In reply, Sharma and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gave India a spectacular start. Sooryavanshi struck 45 off just 19 balls, including four fours and four sixes, as the pair put New Zealand’s bowlers under immense pressure. Their opening partnership propelled India to 133 in just 7.1 overs.

Although India lost wickets after the explosive start, the visitors completed the chase comfortably. Naman Dhir remained unbeaten on four as India reached 199 for four in just 13.2 overs, securing a six-wicket victory.

The win gave India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20 International series, with two matches still to be played.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar