Highest Powerplay Totals: India recently set a new record by scoring 118/0 against New Zealand in Wellington on October 27, 2026. The opening partnership between Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi helped India surpass Romania’s previous record of 116/0 against Serbia in 2021.
India needed only 7.4 overs to reach 150. That is the fastest by any team in men’s T20 cricket. The old fastest was 8.2 overs. That was also by SRH against the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2024, and Abhishek played in it. Turkey had the old T20I record with 8.3 overs against Bulgaria in 2025.
India reached 50 in 2.2 overs. That is the joint fastest in men’s T20Is with three other teams, where ball-by-ball data is available. It is also the joint second fastest in all men’s T20s. Colombo Kings took two overs against Galle Gladiators in LPL 2020. India got to 100 in five overs. That is the second quickest in all T20s.
India scored 26 in the first over of the chase. That is the most by a Full Member nation in men’s T20Is. Australia had the old mark with 24 against the West Indies in 2010. Kemar Roach bowled that over.
Abhishek Sharma now has 11 hundreds in T20 cricket. He is India’s leading century-maker in the format. He passed Virat Kohli, who has 10. Abhishek Sharma is third on the all-time list. Three of Abhishek’s four T20I hundreds came in less than 40 balls. No other batter has even two such tons. His Wellington hundred was his fifth T20 hundred in less than 40 balls. He has nine fifties in 20 or fewer balls in T20Is. No other batter has even five such half-centuries.
Abhishek Sharma now has three T20I innings with ten or more sixes. He hit 11 in Wellington. Austria’s Karanbir Singh has five such innings. He is the only other batter with more than two. Abhishek has seven such innings in all T20s. That is the second most. Only Gayle has more, with 18.
India finished the 199-run chase in 13.2 overs. That is the second quickest chase of a 190-plus target in T20 cricket. Estonia chased 192 against Cyprus in 13 overs in 2024.
Top 5 Highest Powerplay Totals in Men’s T20Is
Here is a look at the five highest powerplay totals in men’s T20I cricket.
1. India – 118/0 vs New Zealand, Wellington, 2026
India recorded the highest powerplay total in men’s T20Is with a stunning performance against New Zealand in the third T20I at Wellington. Chasing a target of 199, India scored 118 runs without losing a wicket in the first six overs.
Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi attacked the New Zealand bowlers from the beginning, putting the opposition under immediate pressure. Abhishek reached 57 off 20 balls by the end of the powerplay, while Sooryavanshi scored 44 off just 17 deliveries.
India also crossed the 100-run mark in only five overs, making the start even more remarkable. The partnership gave India a strong position in the chase and helped the team secure a comfortable victory.
2. Romania – 116/0 vs Serbia, Sofia, 2021
Romania previously held the record after producing a remarkable performance against Serbia in Sofia in 2021. The team scored 116 runs without losing a wicket, reaching the target in just 5.4 overs.
Romania’s aggressive approach allowed its batters to score at an extraordinary rate during the opening phase of the innings. Their performance remained the highest powerplay total in men’s T20I cricket for more than five years before India surpassed it in 2026.
3. Australia – 113/1 vs Scotland, Edinburgh, 2024
Australia produced one of the highest powerplay totals by a Full Member team when they scored 113/1 against Scotland in Edinburgh in September 2024.
The Australian batters made full use of the fielding restrictions and attacked the Scottish bowling lineup from the start. Their scoring rate put Scotland under pressure and established a new benchmark for Full Member teams at the time.
4. Zimbabwe – 103/1 vs Gambia, Nairobi, 2024
Zimbabwe entered the record books with a powerplay total of 103/1 against Gambia in Nairobi in 2024. The match took place during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier.
Zimbabwe’s batters attacked from the opening overs, scoring more than 100 runs while losing just one wicket. The performance placed them among the few teams to cross the 100-run mark during the first six overs of a men’s T20I.
5. South Africa – 102/0 vs West Indies, Centurion, 2023
South Africa completed the top five with their powerplay total of 102/0 against the West Indies in Centurion in March 2023.
The innings came during a high-scoring T20I in which South Africa chased a target of 259 runs. Openers Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks attacked the West Indies bowlers and built a strong foundation for the chase. Their partnership helped South Africa reach 102 without losing a wicket during the first six overs.
FAQs
Q. What is India’s highest powerplay score in men’s T20Is?
A. India scored 118 runs in the powerplay against New Zealand in Wellington.
Q. How many T20 centuries has Abhishek Sharma scored?
A. Abhishek has scored 11 T20 centuries, the most by an Indian batter.
Q. How quickly did India reach 150 against New Zealand?
A. India reached 150 in just 7.4 overs, setting a men’s T20 cricket record.
Q. How many sixes did Abhishek Sharma hit in Wellington?
A. Abhishek smashed 11 sixes during his innings.
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