Abhishek Sharma becomes first batter to hit 100 T20I powerplay sixes

Indian T20I opener Abhishek Sharma has etched his name in history by becoming the first batter in men's T20 internationals to achieve a remarkable feat of 100 powerplay sixes. This monumental milestone was reached during India's second T20I encounter against New Zealand in Christchurch. Abhishek showcased his blistering batting prowess by scoring 27 off just 21 balls, including three fours and a six, before being dismissed by Mitchell Santner in the ninth over as India chased a target of 181.

With an average of 7.77 balls per six, Abhishek's remarkable efficiency translates to hitting a powerplay six every 7.77 balls on average. Former India captain Rohit Sharma trails in second place with 98 powerplay sixes, followed by New Zealand's Martin Guptill with 97. Abhishek's aggressive approach at the top of the order has been a key factor in his success, as he aims to apply early pressure on the bowlers.

In the current year, Abhishek has been exceptionally prolific in T20Is, scoring 1,012 runs across 36 innings at an average of 28.91 and a strike rate of 199.60. He has already scored a century and eight half-centuries this season, with his highest score reaching an impressive 108. Notably, Abhishek Sharma is only the third Indian batsman to surpass the 1,000 T20I run mark in a single calendar year, joining Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan in this exclusive club.