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Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced a devastating batting display during India's third T20I against New Zealand at Wellington on October 27, 2026. The pair stitched together a destructive partnership that left the opposition bowlers with little answer to their aggressive approach. Their combined assault resulted in India scoring 118 without losing a wicket in the powerplay, breaking Australia's previous world record of 113 runs without loss against Scotland.
Former cricketer Ajay Jadeja praised the duo for their extraordinary performance and noted that their belligerence had surpassed even Rohit Sharma's reputation for aggressive batting. Speaking on Sony Sports, Jadeja observed that the period of the game had fundamentally changed with their display.
"I got a feeling that the period of the game has changed. It seemed like no one would be able to play faster than Rohit Sharma. Now, when you see their numbers, you will feel whether Rohit Sharma was a player. It's a new era and a new day," Jadeja said on Sony Sports.
How did Abhishek Sharma and Sooryavanshi's partnership compare to Rohit Sharma's batting?
Abhishek Sharma struck nine fours and 11 sixes during his 113-run knock, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi contributed 45 runs studded with four fours and as many sixes. The duo reached their 100-run partnership in just five overs, completing the milestone off 30 balls. This achievement set a new record for the fastest century partnership in T20 Internationals.
Jadeja highlighted the helplessness of the New Zealand bowlers in the face of such aggressive batting. He reflected on the bowlers' inability to contain the onslaught and the mood in which the two batsmen were playing.
"They (the bowlers) could have done only one thing today, and that was to sit down. Where were they running? They couldn't have done anything. Whatever you did, they (Abhishek and Suryavanshi) were only doing," Jadeja said.
"They were in such a mood. This can only happen at this age. They kept enjoying, and I am extremely thankful for the enjoyment they gave us," he added.
What was the bowlers' experience during the explosive partnership?
The former cricketer emphasised the speed at which the partnership unfolded, drawing a comparison to the bowlers' expectations during such explosive batting displays. He noted that the century partnership arrived so rapidly that even the opposition attack could only watch the proceedings unfold.
"When the wind blows, you wait for it to stop before you think. It happened so quickly. They reached 100 in 30 balls. Even if someone hits the first six to 10 balls, the bowler thinks the batter will get out now, or he will try something. However, when they reached 100 in five overs, the bowlers would also be enjoying this game," Jadeja said.
Why should this match not be over-analysed?
Jadeja cautioned against over-analysing the match, describing it as an exceptionally rare occurrence that should be appreciated rather than dissected. He stressed that such performances represent a singular moment rather than a repeatable pattern.
"Some matches shouldn't be analyzed, whether you are a player, a coach, us sitting here, or those watching at home. You can either appreciate a day, or you can be sad if you are a bowler, but if you analyze this match and say they would do this every day, that won't happen. This was an extremely special day," Jadeja said.
Abhishek Sharma had amassed 2,127 runs at a strike rate of 193.36 across 68 T20I innings, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had aggregated 295 runs at a strike rate of 185.53 in 10 shortest-format games internationally. Their combined aggression during the Wellington encounter demonstrated the attacking intent both players brought to India's T20I setup.
