India did it with an opening stand that never gave New Zealand a way in. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma, batting together at the top, hammered 118 without loss across the first six overs in Wellington on 27 October 2026, the biggest opening-six haul men’s T20I cricket has seen. Chasing 199 in the third match of the five-game series, they reached fifty in 2.2 overs and three figures in five, setting up a six-wicket finish inside 13.2 overs with the evening barely underway.
Duffy’s Opening Over Sets the Tone
Jacob Duffy had the new ball for New Zealand, and the contest slipped away within minutes. His first over began with a front-foot no-ball, then a bouncer flew above the stretching keeper for a wide that ran to the boundary. Both openers lofted him over point for sixes, and the over cost 26, India’s fourth powerplay over of 20-plus in the series.
Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old, hit a four from his very first ball and a six from his third, and he batted as if the occasion carried no weight. Abhishek answered every shot with one of his own. By the end of that over, the home side already looked like a team searching for a plan.
Abhishek-Sooryavanshi T20I powerplay record
The 118 without loss tops every powerplay total on the books for men’s T20Is where ball-by-ball data exists. Romania held the old mark of 116 without loss against Serbia in 2021, and Australia owned the best among full-member sides, 113 for 1 against Scotland. India also produced the quickest team fifty a full-member nation has managed, in 2.2 overs. The hundred itself arrived exactly at the five-over mark.
Every over cost New Zealand at least 16, and the table shows how the damage was spread. Duffy and Milne each bowled twice, and even the cheapest over of the lot still went for 16. No bowler found a wicket, so the six overs went at close to 20 an over.
Over | Bowler | Runs conceded |
|---|---|---|
Over 1 | Jacob Duffy | 26 |
Over 2 | Adam Milne | 17 |
Over 3 | Michael Bracewell | 21 |
Over 4 | Kyle Jamieson | 20 |
Over 5 | Adam Milne | 16 |
Over 6 | Jacob Duffy | 18 |
Spin Offered No Escape
For the third over, Santner handed the ball to the off-spinner Bracewell, hoping a slower ball and a different angle would break India’s rhythm. It cost 21. The Wellington surface gave the spinner nothing to grip, and the openers moved onto the front foot early, driving through the off side and sweeping into the gaps whenever fielders shifted.
Both batters were striking well beyond 200 per 100 balls as the phase neared its end. Santner himself, usually the home side’s most trusted bowler, never came on in those six overs, a choice that drew plenty of criticism later. Pace or spin, the answer from India never changed.
New Zealand’s Plans Fall Apart
Adam Milne conceded 17 in the second over. Kyle Jamieson, hitting the deck hard, was handled even more roughly in the fourth, where Abhishek struck two fours and two sixes in a 20-run over and reached fifty from 15 balls. Short balls were pulled, full ones driven, and the short square boundaries at Sky Stadium offered no relief.
Full, short, wide outside off, aimed at the ribs: New Zealand tried every length and line. Duffy returned for the sixth over and went for 18, closing with a six from Sooryavanshi over point, leaving the ground as he swung. By then Santner looked rattled, watching six overs end with nothing in the wickets column.
Milestones That Followed the Opening Burst
Abhishek brought up his hundred from 35 balls, his fourth in T20Is, and finished with 113 off 38, striking at 297.36, including nine fours and 11 sixes. He took the Player of the Match award. The opening stand was worth 133 in 7.1 overs before Matthew Fisher removed Sooryavanshi for 45 off 19 balls, which had four fours and four sixes.
India closed the chase with 40 balls to spare, and the win handed them an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series. It was also their third straight series victory on New Zealand soil. Few nights in the format have produced anything close to what the Abhishek-Sooryavanshi T20I powerplay record now stands for.
Can any opening pair in the format ever beat 118 in six overs, or is this the ceiling? Tell us in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the biggest powerplay total in men’s T20I history?
India’s 118 without loss on 27 October 2026, facing New Zealand in Wellington, is the biggest ever. Romania’s 116 without loss against Serbia in 2021 stood as the previous best.
How many balls did Abhishek Sharma need for his hundred?
Abhishek Sharma reached three figures in 35 balls during the third T20I in Wellington. He finished on 113 off 38 balls, hitting nine fours and 11 sixes.
Who is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a left-handed opener from Bihar; he is 15 and plays IPL cricket for Rajasthan. He became India’s youngest international cricketer when he debuted against England in Manchester on 4 July 2026.
Did India win the series against New Zealand?
Yes, the Wellington victory gave India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series with two games still to play. They chased 199 by six wickets with 40 balls remaining.
How many runs did Sooryavanshi score in Wellington?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made a quick 45 off just 19 balls in the Wellington chase. Matthew Fisher dismissed him after four fours and four sixes, ending a 133-run opening stand worth 7.1 overs.