Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma Explode as India Record Fastest Team 100 in T20 World Cup Knockouts During Final vs New Zealand

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India produced a sensational start in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Final against New Zealand, recording the fastest team 100 in the history of T20 World Cup knockout matches.

India raced to the three-figure mark in just 7.2 overs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (March 8), breaking the previous record set earlier in the same tournament.

After being asked to bat first by New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner, India’s openers launched an explosive assault during the powerplay to seize early momentum in the high-stakes final.

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson Power India’s Flying Start

The aggressive opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson dominated the early overs, scoring freely against both pace and spin.

At the end of seven overs, India were already cruising at 98/0, with Abhishek Sharma leading the charge with 52 off just 20 balls, while Sanju Samson provided solid support with 38 off 22 deliveries.

The seventh over, bowled by Santner, went for six runs (0, 0, 0, 4, 1, 1) as India inched closer to the historic milestone.

However, the opening stand was finally broken on the first ball of the 7.1 over, when Abhishek Sharma was dismissed after a blistering half-century that set the tone for India’s innings.

Ishan Kishan Takes India to Historic Century

Following Abhishek’s dismissal, Ishan Kishan walked in as the new batter and wasted no time in keeping the momentum going.

On the very next delivery, Kishan ran a quick double, taking India to 100 runs in just 7.2 overs — the fastest team century ever recorded in a T20 World Cup knockout match.

Fastest Team 100s in T20 World Cup Knockouts

Aggressive Powerplay Defines 2026 Knockouts

The 2026 T20 World Cup knockout stage has been defined by fearless batting, with teams increasingly attacking from the outset. India’s explosive start in the final epitomised this trend, as Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson dismantled the New Zealand attack in the powerplay.

Their blistering partnership ensured India rewrote the record books while setting the tone for a thrilling contest in front of a packed crowd in Ahmedabad.