New Delhi: Abhishek Sharma made a dazzling return to form as he smashed the fastest fifty in a T20 World Cup final match on Sunday. After India were invited to bat first by New Zealand in the summit clash at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad, Abhishek and Sanju Samson gave the defending champions a fierce start in the ultimate encounter of the ICC event to set the perfect base.
Fastest team hundred, fastest fifty
Abhishek scored a half-century in just 18 balls as India also made the fastest team fifty in a T20 World Cup final or semifinal clash. The southpaw, however could not last long on the crease as he departed for 52 runs off 21 balls but did the damage which he was meant to do. This was also the fastest fifty in T20 WC knockout games. After his departure, India also scored the fastest team hundred in T20 World Cup knockout game, bringing it up in just 7.2 overs.
7.2 overs – IND vs NZ, Ahmedabad, 2026
7.5 overs – NZ vs SA, Kolkata, 2026
8.1 overs – ENG vs IND, Mumbai WS, 2026
8.3 overs – IND vs ENG, Mumbai WS, 2026
Highest powerplay score in T20 WCs
Off to 50 runs in just 4 overs, India set the record for the highest powerplay score in the history of T20 World Cups. In 6 overs with help of Abhishek’s and Samson’ power-hitting, India scored 92 runs setting another feat in the summit clash.
92/0 – IND vs NZ, Ahmedabad, 2026 Final
92/1 – WI vs AFG, Bridgetown, 2024
91/1 – NED vs IRE, Sylhet, 2014
89/3 – ENG vs SA, Mumbai WS, 2016
86/1 – IND vs NAM, Delhi, 2026
The stand between Abhishek and Samson was also the first 50-plus opening stand in the history of men’s T20 World Cup final, breaking the previous highest record of 48 runs between Kamran Akmal and Shahzaib Hasan against Sri Lanka at Lord’s in 2009.