Abhishek Sharma Runs Riot In Wellington, Surpasses Chris Gayle For Huge T20I Record

In 70 T20Is and 69 innings, Abhishek Sharma has made 2,240 runs at an average of 33.43.© AFP

Star India opener Abhishek Sharma slammed his 10th T20 century during the third T20I against New Zealand in Wellington on Tuesday, helping him surpass Virat Kohli for the most hundreds in the format by an Indian batter. Abhishek smashed 113 off 38 balls, including 11 sixes and nine fours, as India chased down 199 with more than six overs to spare. Abhishek's carnage at the Wellington Regional Stadium also saw him become the first batter from an ICC full-member nation to hit 10 or more sixes in a T20I innings on three occasions, extending his own record.

Prior to the contest, Abhishek had achieved the feat twice, a tally matched only by former West Indies great Chris Gayle and Australia legend Aaron Finch.

Overall, Abhishek is second on the list behind Austria's Karanbir Singh, who has hit 10 or more sixes in a T20I innings on five occasions in Associate cricket.

Hitting 10 or more sixes in a Men's T20I innings:

5 - Karanbir Singh (Austria)
3 - Abhishek Sharma (India)*
2 - Chris Gayle (West Indies)
2 - Aaron Finch (Australia)
2 - Adrian Dunbar (Serbia)
2 - Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (Japan)

This is the seventh time Abhishek has hit 10 sixes or more in a T20 innings; only Chris Gayle (18 times) has done better.

Abhishek now has four T20I centuries, the joint second-highest in T20I history, levelling with stars like Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and England's Phil Salt. Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell (5) holds the record for most T20I centuries. 

In 70 T20Is and 69 innings, Abhishek has made 2,240 runs at an average of 33.43 and a strike rate of 196.83, with four centuries and 14 fifties and a best score of 135. 

This year in 37 T20Is, Abhishek has made 1,125 runs at an average of 31.25 and a strike rate of 206.42, including two centuries and eight fifties and a best score of 113. He is 40 runs away from breaking Suryakumar's record of most T20I runs in a year by an Indian (1,164 runs in 2022).

(With ANI Inputs)

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