Abhishek Sharma made history by hitting his first ball for a six during India's chase of New Zealand's 226-run target in the first T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on Thursday, October 22. The left-handed opener achieved the feat for the seventh time in T20Is, surpassing Afghanistan's Shafiqullah Shinwari.
Abhishek and Sanju Samson gave India a flying start with a 93-run opening partnership in six overs. Samson and Sharma helped the visiting team reach 94/1 at the end of the powerplay, their third-highest score in the first six overs of a T20I innings. Earlier, New Zealand posted a total of 225 runs in 20 overs.
Abhishek Sharma struck his record-breaking six off the final delivery of the opening over bowled by Matt Henry. The New Zealand pacer pitched the ball full and wide outside off stump. The Indian opener launched an inside-out drive over extra cover, sending the ball 74 metres over the boundary.
The six took Abhishek's tally of first-ball maximums in T20I innings to seven. He moved ahead of Shafiqullah Shinwari, who had achieved the feat six times. Suryakumar Yadav has done it five times, while Paul Stirling, Colin Munro and the UAE's Mohammad Naveed have done it four times each.
Abhishek (16) also extended his record for the most sixes in the opening over of a T20I innings among players from Full Member nations. Stirling and West Indies' Evin Lewis have hit 13 each. Former India captain Rohit Sharma and New Zealand's Martin Guptill have smashed 12 maximums apiece.
Sanju Samson Hits Fourth-Fastest T20I Fifty at Christchurch
While Abhishek Sharma attacked from the outset, Sanju Samson played an equally aggressive innings at the other end. The wicketkeeper-batter reached his half-century in just 23 balls, recording the fourth-fastest T20I fifty at Hagley Oval.
New Zealand's Glenn Phillips holds the venue record, having reached his fifty in 19 balls against Bangladesh in 2022. Australia's Cameron White scored a 21-ball fifty against New Zealand in 2010, while England's Harry Brook took 22 balls to reach the milestone at the venue in 2025.
The opening pair's 93-run stand was their fifth partnership of at least 50 runs in T20Is in 2026, equalling India's record for the most such opening stands in a calendar year.
KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma recorded five in 2021, while Abhishek and Shubman Gill matched that tally in 2025. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma follow on the list, having registered four 50-plus opening partnerships in 2018.
Michael Bracewell ends India's explosive powerplay
New Zealand finally broke the partnership in the final over of the powerplay. Off-spinner Michael Bracewell dismissed Abhishek Sharma on the fifth delivery of the over with a 92 kph arm ball.
Attempting another inside-out shot over cover, Abhishek Sharma made room but misjudged the bounce. The ball took the bat awkwardly and flew towards short third man, where Adam Milne completed the catch. Abhishek departed for 29 off 12 balls, having struck four sixes and a boundary.
Despite losing the opener, India finished the powerplay at 94/1 after scoring freely against New Zealand's attack. The total ranks third among India's highest powerplay scores in T20Is, behind their 100/0 against Afghanistan in Delhi in 2026 and 95/1 against England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in 2025.
Also read: Watch: Glenn Phillips' 'most atrocious shot ever' off Bhuvneshwar Kumar amazes Irfan Pathan
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