Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi breathed fire from the word go as they opened the batting in the third T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch on Tuesday. Chasing a target of 199 runs, the pair paid little attention to who was bowling, shifting straight into fifth gear right from the start. Abhishek smashed a 15-ball half-century as India brought up their team fifty in just 2.2 overs, equalling the world record of scoring the fastest team fifty in T20 internationals. Later, India broke the record for scoring the fastest team hundred in the shortest format.

Among Test-playing nations, India’s team fifty is the fastest ever scored. Across all T20I-playing nations, India equalled the joint-record held by Papua New Guinea (against Vanuatu) and Romania (against Serbia). The previous record for the fastest team fifty by a Test-playing nation was 2.4 overs, held by New Zealand (achieved against both Scotland and England) and South Africa (against the West Indies).

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 (Christchurch, 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)

Later in the innings, India made the T20I world record entirely their own by reaching the team hundred mark in just 5 overs (30 balls). The previous overall record was held by Romania, who reached 100 in 32 balls (5.2 overs) against Serbia in 2021. Among Test-playing nations, South Africa previously held the record, having reached their century in 5.3 overs against the West Indies.

Fastest Team 100s in T20Is:

5.0 overs – India vs New Zealand (Christchurch, 2026)

5.2 overs – Romania vs Serbia (Sofia, 2021)

5.3 overs – South Africa vs West Indies (Centurion, 2023)

5.3 overs – Australia vs Scotland (Edinburgh, 2024)

5.5 overs – Zimbabwe vs Gambia (Nairobi, 2024)

5.5 overs – England vs South Africa (Old Trafford, 2025)

The Indian team also broke the world record for the highest-ever powerplay score as they put 118 runs on the board from the first six overs of the 199-run chase. The figure is the highest-ever score for a team in the powerplay, going past the previous highest of Romania, who had aggregated 116/0 against Serbia in a T20 international match in 2021.

Highest totals in overs 1-6 in Men’s T20Is (where data available):

118/0 – India vs New Zealand, Wellington, 2026

116/0 – Romania vs Serbia, Sofia, 2021 (5.4 overs)

113/1 – Australia vs Scotland, Edinburgh, 2024

103/1 – Zimbabwe vs Gambia, Nairobi (RSC), 2024

102/0 – South Africa vs West Indies, Centurion, 2023

100/0 – England vs South Africa, Old Trafford, 2025

100/0 – India vs Afghanistan, Delhi, 2026

Abhishek departed after completing his century in just 35 balls. Sooryavanshi, on the other hand, 19-ball 45 before returning to the dressing room.