Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Create History vs New Zealand, India Break South Africa's T20I World Record

India got off to a flying start in their 199-run chase against New Zealand at Hagley Oval in Wellington on Tuesday, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma starting to attack the bowlers from the first over

The opening pair took just 2.2 overs to take India’s score past 50. They continued in the same fashion and took the team total to 100 in only five overs, setting a new record for the fastest team 100 in T20I cricket.

With boundaries coming at regular intervals, the two left-handed batters put New Zealand under immediate pressure. Their explosive start helped India surpass South Africa’s previous record, set against the West Indies in Centurion in 2023. The Proteas had reached the 100-run mark in 5.3 overs.

Fastest team 100s in T20Is

• 5 overs – IND vs NZ, Wellington, 2026
• 5.2 overs – Romania vs Serbia, Sofia, 2021
• 5.3 overs – SA vs WI, Centurion, 2023
• 5.3 overs – AUS vs SCOT, Edinburgh, 2024
• 5.5 overs – ZIM vs GAM, Nairobi, 2024
• 5.5 overs – ENG vs SA, Old Trafford, 2025

India Among Teams With Fastest 50 In T20Is

India’s 50-run mark in just 2.2 overs also puts them among the teams that have reached the milestone in the fewest overs in T20I cricket.

Papua New Guinea against Vanuatu in Port Moresby in 2019 and Romania against Serbia in Sofia in 2021 had also taken 2.2 overs to reach 50. India’s effort against New Zealand in Wellington now joins that list.

New Zealand have also featured in some of the quickest starts in the format. They reached 50 in 2.4 overs against Scotland at The Oval in 2009 and repeated the feat against England in Auckland in 2019.

The list also includes the Philippines, who took 2.3 overs to reach 50 against Indonesia in Bali in 2023, and South Africa, who achieved the mark against the West Indies in Centurion the same year.

Fastest Team 50s In T20Is (By Overs)

• 2.2 overs – Papua New Guinea vs Vanuatu, Port Moresby, 2019
• 2.2 overs – Romania vs Serbia, Sofia, 2021
• 2.2 overs – India vs New Zealand, Wellington, 2026
• 2.3 overs – Philippines vs Indonesia, Bali, 2023
• 2.4 overs – New Zealand vs Scotland, The Oval, 2009
• 2.4 overs – New Zealand vs England, Auckland, 2019
• 2.4 overs – South Africa vs West Indies, Centurion, 2023

Abhishek Sharma Joins Elite List Of Fastest T20I Half-Centuries

Abhishek Sharma has also made his mark in the list of the fastest half-centuries in T20Is between two Full Member teams. His 14-ball fifty against New Zealand in Guwahati earlier in 2026 had already put him among the quickest scorers in this category.

He features again on the list with his 15-ball half-century in Wellington. Shivam Dube also reached his fifty off 15 balls against New Zealand in Visakhapatnam in 2026.

The record for the fastest half-century in a T20I between two Full Member teams still belongs to Yuvraj Singh, who smashed a 12-ball fifty against England in Durban during the 2007 T20 World Cup. Colin Munro is second on the list after reaching his half-century in 14 balls against Sri Lanka in Auckland in 2016. Quinton de Kock also registered a 15-ball fifty against the West Indies in Centurion in 2023.