India Cruises to 3-0 Lead as Abhishek Smashes 14-Ball Fifty Against NZ

26 Jan, 2026 9:48 AM, Mon

India Cruises to 3-0 Lead as Abhishek Smashes 14-Ball Fifty Against NZ

Abhishek Sharma smashed a 14-ball fifty, powering India to an 8-wicket win over New Zealand and securing an unassailable 3-0 lead in the T20I series. Abhishek's blistering knock included 7 fours and 5 sixes, while Suryakumar Yadav contributed an attacking 57 off 26 balls. The duo stitched an unbeaten 102-run partnership, chasing down 154 with 10 overs to spare. India's 3-0 series win over New Zealand is a strong statement ahead of the T20 World Cup, with second-string players like Abhishek Sharma and Harshit Rana stepping up big time. Abhishek's 14-ball fifty and Kishan's explosive batting set up a convincing 8-wicket win, while Bumrah and Rana's early wickets set the tone. This winning streak, which began before the last T20 World Cup, showcases India's depth and bodes well for their title defense. Harshit Rana and Hardik Pandya were on fire ! Rana's blazing pace had Devon Conway struggling, and he fell to a mis-hit to mid-off, where Hardik took a stunning overhead catch. The momentum shifted, and Bishnoi capitalized with a wicket in the next over, getting Rachin Ravindra with a short ball. India's bowlers are looking sharp, and the hosts are on top. Bishnoi and Bumrah were dominant ! With Varun Chakravarthy resting, India looked to them to step up in the powerplay. Bishnoi's tricky action and trajectory kept NZ batsmen quiet, conceding just one run in the fifth over. Bumrah's pace and precision complemented Bishnoi's spin perfectly. India's bowling lineup is looking solid. India's bowlers also impressed, restricting New Zealand to 153/9 with Jasprit Bumrah taking 3 wickets and Ravi Bishnoi claiming 2. This dominant performance sets up India for a strong finish to the series and bodes well for their upcoming T20 World Cup campaign.

Trending Series

cricket mazza ads

Team Rankings

Rank Team Rating Points
1 India 122 5117
2 Australia 116 3936
3 South Africa 112 3357
4 Pakistan 106 2762
5 New Zealand 101 3349
Rank Player Name Points
1 Babar Azam 824
2 Shubman Gill 801
3 V. Kohli 768
4 H.T. Tector 746
5 R.G. Sharma 746
Rank Player Name Points
1 K.A. Maharaj 716
2 J.R. Hazlewood 688
3 A. Zampa 686
4 Mohammed Siraj 678
5 J.J. Bumrah 665
Rank Player Name Points
1 Mohammad Nabi 320
2 Shakib Al Hasan 292
3 Sikandar Raza 288
4 A. Vala 248
5 Rashid Khan 239
Rank Team Rating Points
1 Australia 124 3715
2 India 120 3108
3 England 105 3151
4 South Africa 103 1845
5 New Zealand 96 2121
Rank Player Name Points
1 K.S. Williamson 859
2 J.E. Root 824
3 D.J. Mitchell 768
4 Babar Azam 768
5 S.P.D. Smith 757
Rank Player Name Points
1 R. Ashwin 870
2 J.J. Bumrah 847
3 J.R. Hazlewood 847
4 K. Rabada 834
5 P.J. Cummins 820
Rank Player Name Points
1 R.A. Jadeja 444
2 R. Ashwin 322
3 Shakib Al Hasan 310
4 J.E. Root 282
5 J.O. Holder 270
Rank Team Rating Points
1 India 266 14108
2 Australia 256 10241
3 England 254 9660
4 West Indies 252 11604
5 South Africa 251 8287
Rank Player Name Points
1 T.M. Head 844
2 S.A. Yadav 842
3 P.D. Salt 816
4 Babar Azam 755
5 Mohammad Rizwan 746
Rank Player Name Points
1 A.U. Rashid 719
2 Rashid Khan 681
3 P.W.H. De Silva 674
4 J.R. Hazlewood 662
5 A.J. Hosein 659
Rank Player Name Points
1 P.W.H. De Silva 222
2 Mohammad Nabi 214
3 H.H. Pandya 213
4 M.P. Stoinis 211
5 Sikandar Raza 210
cricket mazza ads
cricket mazza ads

ads footer

© 2025 Cricket Mazza. All Rights Reserved