India National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Abhishek Sharma produced a stunning knock to rewrite the record books during the first T20 international against New Zealand at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The left-handed opener began the new year in fine form, breaking Yuvraj Singh’s long-standing record for the most sixes by an Indian in T20 internationals.

Abhishek achieved the milestone during his aggressive innings after New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and chose to bowl. India lost an early wicket at 18, but Abhishek kept attacking from the other end. He reached his half-century off just 22 balls, the fastest by an Indian against New Zealand in T20Is. Batting at a strike rate of over 200, he struck four 5 and four 8 in his innings.

Abhishek needed three sixes before the match to go past Yuvraj’s tally. He broke the record in the fifth over, hitting a six off Christian Clark to move ahead of his mentor. Yuvraj had hit 74 sixes in T20 internationals between 2007 and 2017. Abhishek has now smashed 81 sixes in the format, moving to sixth place on the all-time list among Indian players.

Most T20I Sixes by Indian Players:

• Rohit Sharma – 205

• Suryakumar Yadav – 156

• Virat Kohli – 124

• Hardik Pandya – 106

• KL Rahul – 99

• Abhishek Sharma – 81

• Yuvraj Singh – 74

He also went past Yuvraj’s overall T20I run tally. While Yuvraj scored 1,177 runs in 51 innings from 58 matches, with eight half-centuries, Abhishek has crossed the mark with 1,198 runs in just 33 innings.