‘This combo feels so illegal’: Cricket fans react as Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi blitz NZ in 199-run chase originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi put on a world-record 118 in the powerplay at Wellington.
- India chased 199 in 13.2 overs to take the series 3-0 with two matches to play.
- Irfan Pathan and Vikrant Gupta were among those reacting to the opening stand.
Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi tear New Zealand apart in Wellington
India were 118 without loss after six overs chasing 199 at the Hnry Stadium on Tuesday, which is the highest powerplay score in the history of men's T20Is. New Zealand had posted 198 for 3 with Daryl Mitchell unbeaten on 89, and the match was effectively finished before their bowlers had worked out what was happening.
Abhishek Sharma did most of the damage, reaching fifty off 15 balls and his hundred off 35, equalling Rohit Sharma's mark as the fastest by an Indian in the format. He finished with 113 from 38 deliveries at a strike rate of 297, hitting nine fours and 11 sixes before falling to Kyle Jamieson in the 10th over.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the junior partner in every sense, but still made 45 off 19. The pair's 118 beat Romania's 116 against Serbia in 2021 as the all-time record and went well past Australia's 113 for 1 against Scotland, which had been the best by a full member.
Naman Dhir hit the winning boundary off Jamieson with 40 balls to spare, giving India a 3-0 lead in the series with two matches still to come.
MORE: IND vs NZ 3rd T20I 2026: Abhishek steals the show with a blistering ton as India clinch series
The cricket world reacts to India's record opening stand
The reaction began while Abhishek was still batting, and most of it settled on the same thing, which was the sheer unfairness of the two left-handers opening together. "Flat pitch + small ground + Vaibhav and Abhishek opening. This combo feels so illegal lol," one fan wrote.
Flat pitch + small ground + Vaibhav and Abhishek opening
— (@PedriMyluv) October 27, 2026
This combo feels so illegal lol
Vikrant Gupta, the Aaj Tak sports editor, could not place it against anything he had watched before. "Haven't seen this kind of batting. Abhishek and Vaibhav as a Jodi are #IndvsNZ," he wrote.
Haven't seen this kind of batting. Abhishek and Vaibhav as a Jodi are #IndvsNZ
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) October 27, 2026
The sharpest observation came from a fan who had noticed what the pairing was doing to Abhishek himself, with the senior man taking singles off the last ball of overs to keep himself on strike.
"Get Vaibhav to open, it creates such rivalry that even Abhishek wants to farm strike by taking a single on the last ball of the over, and show his six hitting prowess," they posted.
Nitin K Srivastav of Sports Tak took the discussion back to the dressing room and the coach.
"What a win – fantastic. Gautam Gambhir's fearless cricketing vision is on display as India chase 199 against New Zealand," he wrote, crediting Sooryavanshi's youthful aggression and Abhishek's attacking approach as the brand of cricket India wants to play.
Irfan Pathan's response was the funniest, mocking the idea that anyone could have done anything about it. "Kisi ko to rokna chahiye tha,are kon rokega?Abhishek Sharma,Vaibhav suryavanshi ke ese start ke baad (Someone should have stopped him, right? Who would stop him? After Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Suryavanshi's such a start)," the former India all-rounder said.
Someone should have stopped him, right? Who would stop him? After Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Suryavanshi's such a start
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 27, 2026
What ran through almost all of it was the same note of disbelief rather than celebration. New Zealand had made 198 on a ground where the first-innings average is 153, which on most nights is a winning score.
Nobody watching seemed quite able to process that it had been chased down in just 14 overs. But now that the series is already won, comes a complicated question.
MORE: Daren Sammy sarcastically questions what makes India a 'dangerous' team in cricket
Who should open in the fourth T20I at Eden Park?
India go to Auckland on October 30 with the series already won and two dead rubbers to fill, which is the one situation in which a side can afford to be curious. The obvious call is to leave it alone, after Abhishek and Sooryavanshi's historic night.
Though, Samson should still be the first-choice opener when Ishan Kishan returns from injury.
For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary, and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.