India had already won the series 2–0 before Tuesday’s third T20I in Wellington, and then they made it 3–0 in 13.2 overs. Abhishek Sharma scored 113 off 38 balls, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, promoted to open, added 45 off 19. The pair put on 133 in 7.1 overs, and India chased 199 with 40 balls to spare. This piece looks at what the two did, how their roles have shifted, and which questions matter before the fourth match.
What happened in Wellington
India put New Zealand in. The hosts made 198/3, built mostly on Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 89 off 52 balls. He added 86 with Finn Allen (40 off 25) for the second wicket, and an unbroken 75 with Bevon Jacobs (39 off 23). Reports note that New Zealand scored only 52 in the last five overs, so a total that looked healthy at 15 overs finished at under ten an over.
It did not matter. Jacob Duffy’s first over went for 26, India were 100 after five overs and 118 without loss after the six-over powerplay, which the reports describe as the highest powerplay score in men’s T20Is. Sooryavanshi hit a four off the first ball of the innings. Abhishek reached 50 off 15 balls, then 100 off 35, and was dismissed by Kyle Jamieson three balls later. Sooryavanshi had gone earlier, caught by Mitchell off Matthew Fisher in the eighth over. India were 178/2 after ten overs.
| Batter | Runs (balls) | Fours / sixes | Strike rate | Runs from boundaries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | 113 (38) | 9 / 11 | 297.4 | 102 (90%) |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 45 (19) | 4 / 4 | 236.8 | 40 (89%) |
The arithmetic checks out: nine fours and 11 sixes are 36 and 66, or 102 runs, leaving 11 from singles, twos and similar running. One outlet listed a different split of boundaries, so we use the version that matches the 113 and the reported strike rate. Sooryavanshi’s four fours and four sixes are 40, plus five. Our strike rates are calculated from the reported runs and balls.
The role change: a two-man powerplay
The least noticed fact may be the most useful. Sooryavanshi was moved up to open after batting at No. 3 in the second match, according to Eastern Eye’s report, and a Yahoo Sports preview of the fourth match describes Sooryavanshi as having moved up to open and Sanju Samson as being at No. 3. That preview is a predicted XI and an opinion piece, so we treat the batting order for Friday as unconfirmed.
What did the change do? The 133-run stand lasted 43 balls, which is about 18.6 an over. It put India 118 up before a wicket fell and removed any need for a middle-order rescue. The chase asked for 199 in 120 balls (9.95 an over), and the first six overs alone supplied 59% of it.
What to make of it: our reading
This section is editorial analysis and not confirmed fact.
The outlier risk is real. Both innings came at a strike rate of well over 200 with around nine in ten runs from boundaries. That is brilliant when it works, and it also means each innings can end quickly. The sample is one match, and one match tells us what is possible, not what is typical.
Conditions helped. Abhishek said, as reported, that he and Sooryavanshi had noticed extra bounce while fielding, and India’s captain Shreyas Iyer said he had never seen 100 scored in five overs at international level. Those are their words, relayed by one outlet. The bounce and the short boundaries of one ground may not carry over to Eden Park.
The opposition shape matters. New Zealand are without Matt Henry for the rest of the series, and Lockie Ferguson missed this game, as covered in our pace-attack analysis. An attack that is being rotated is a different test from a full-strength one, so be careful about reading the 113 as a forecast for tougher bowling groups.
Fantasy angles to check
None of this is a recommendation or a promise of points. For anyone building a team, the useful checks are practical:
- Wait for the toss and confirmed XIs. Ishan Kishan has a reported low-grade right adductor strain, and a Yahoo Sports preview said no newer official update had been issued, so who bats where is open.
- Check the batting order as announced. An opener faces more balls in the powerplay than a No. 3, but only if the order stays as it was in Wellington.
- Look at the ground and the conditions, including boundary size, dew and wind, before assuming Wellington’s scoring repeats.
- Read your contest’s scoring table. Milestone bonuses, strike-rate points and captain multipliers differ between platforms; our scoring primer, captain guide and pitch guide explain what to look for.
Wellington showed what India’s top two can do when the pitch, the bounce and the matchup all line up. It did not show that it will happen again. The pieces worth watching on Friday are the toss, the confirmed order, the Auckland conditions and whether New Zealand’s changed attack bowls to a different plan.
Quick questions
How many balls did Abhishek Sharma face for his 113?
He faced 38 balls and hit nine fours and 11 sixes, according to the match reports we checked. He reached 50 off 15 balls and 100 off 35.
Why did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi open in Wellington?
Reports say he was promoted to open after batting at No. 3 in the second match. India have not given a long-term reason, so we treat it as a selection choice for now.
Is the series decided?
Yes. India lead 3–0 in the five-match series, so they have won it. Two matches remain, the fourth at Eden Park, Auckland on Friday 30 October.
Is Ishan Kishan fit for the fourth T20I?
Not confirmed. A Yahoo Sports preview described a low-grade right adductor strain and said no newer official update had been issued.
Does a big innings guarantee a big fantasy score?
No. Scoring rules differ by contest and conditions change from match to match, so check the rules and the confirmed XI.
For the schedule and squads, see our series preview.
Sources
Match facts and records: 1 News, India thrashes New Zealand in 3rd T20 in Wellington; Yahoo Sports, Abhishek Sharma’s 113 off 38 balls, highlights and records; Eastern Eye, Abhishek Sharma’s 38-ball 113 powers India to series win. Fourth match and team news: Yahoo Sports, 4th T20I predicted playing XI and Kishan update. Reports differ by a run on India’s final total, so we quote the margin (six wickets, 40 balls left) rather than the total.