New Delhi, Oct 27: Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced a breathtaking display of power-hitting against New Zealand, smashing 118 runs in the powerplay to set a new benchmark in men's T20I cricket. The opening pair went on the attack from the first over, putting the opposition bowlers under immense pressure and rewriting the record books with their explosive start.

The duo began their assault with 26 runs in the opening over, equalling the record for the most expensive first over in a men's T20I innings. The same number of runs had previously been conceded by Malta's Varun Thamotharam against Gibraltar in May 2023.

The opening over also surpassed the next-highest figure conceded by a bowler from a Full Member team in a T20I innings. Kemar Roach had conceded 24 runs in the first over against Australia in Sydney in 2010.

Abhishek-Vaibhav Rewrite Powerplay Record

The pair's remarkable 118-run powerplay surpassed Romania's previous overall record of 116 without loss against Serbia in Sofia on June 26, 2021. Romania had reached the landmark in just 5.4 overs while chasing Serbia's 115/7 at the National Sports Academy during the Sofia Twenty20.

Romania's openers, Taranjeet Singh and Ramesh Satheesan, were responsible for that extraordinary effort. Taranjeet remained unbeaten on 57 off 19 balls, while Satheesan scored an unbeaten 56 off just 15 deliveries. Both batters completed their half-centuries in fewer than 20 balls.

The record has also been discussed alongside Australia's 113/1 against Scotland in Edinburgh on September 4, 2024. However, Romania's 116/0 remained the highest overall powerplay total in men's T20I cricket before the latest assault.

Record-Breaking Start

Abhishek and Sooryavanshi's 118-run powerplay underlined the extraordinary scoring potential of modern T20I cricket. Their aggressive approach from the outset turned the opening six overs into a historic passage of play, combining a record-equalling first over with a new powerplay benchmark.

The performance will stand out as one of the most explosive starts in the format, highlighting how quickly an opening partnership can change the course of a T20 international innings.