Guwahati: Abhishek Sharma delivered a stunning batting display as India defeated New Zealand by eight wickets in the third T20I at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, sealing an unassailable 3–0 lead in the five-match series with two games still to play.
Chasing a modest target of 154, India suffered an early setback when Sanju Samson was dismissed for a first ball duck. The early loss, however, had little impact as Abhishek and Ishan Kishan launched an aggressive counterattack that quickly took the game away from the visitors.
Kishan struck a brisk 28 off 13 balls, while Abhishek dominated the bowling from the outset, scoring freely to all parts of the ground. The duo added 53 runs for the second wicket before Kishan’s departure brought captain Suryakumar Yadav to the crease.
Abhishek continued his assault and reached his half-century at breathtaking speed, registering the second fastest T20I fifty by an Indian in just 14 balls. He narrowly missed equalling Yuvraj Singh’s long-standing record of a 12-ball fifty set during the 2007 T20 World Cup.
The left-handed opener eventually finished unbeaten on 68 off just 20 deliveries, while Suryakumar matched the tempo with a fluent 57 not out from 26 balls. India completed the chase with 10 overs to spare, underlining their dominance ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Dominant India take an unassailable lead in the T20I series with a comprehensive win in Guwahati 👏
📝: https://t.co/tOVA0qxboW pic.twitter.com/6C1uHTM2i9
— ICC (@ICC) January 25, 2026
Earlier, India’s bowlers set up the win with a disciplined performance. New Zealand lost Devon Conway in the first over and slipped further when Rachin Ravindra was dismissed soon after. Jasprit Bumrah then struck in the sixth over, removing Tim Seifert with a sharp delivery to leave the visitors struggling at 34 for 3.
Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman attempted to rebuild the innings, adding some stability in the middle overs. Chapman was dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi, triggering another collapse as New Zealand slid from 86 for 3 to 112 for 6. Captain Mitchell Santner offered late resistance with a 27-run knock, but New Zealand could only manage 153 for 9 in their 20 overs.
Bumrah was the standout bowler for India, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 17 from four overs. Hardik Pandya and Bishnoi provided solid support, picking up two wickets each.
