Abhishek Sharma Responds to Yuvraj Singh's Jibe After Century vs New Zealand

India secured a six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the third T20I in Wellington on Tuesday, taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Chasing a target of 199, India reached 199 for 4 in just 13.2 overs.

Following the match, opener Abhishek Sharma addressed a playful jibe from mentor Yuvraj Singh regarding a 12-ball fifty. Abhishek had earlier scored a 38-ball 113, featuring 11 sixes and nine fours, after reaching his century in 35 deliveries.

Match Summary and Key Performances

• Venue: Wellington
• Date & Time Zone: Tuesday (Match Day)
• Format: T20 International
• New Zealand Innings: 198/3 in 20 overs (Daryl Mitchell 89*, Finn Allen 40, Bevon Jacobs 39*)
• India Innings: 199/4 in 13.2 overs (Abhishek Sharma 113, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 45)
• Result: India won by 6 wickets with 40 balls remaining

Abhishek's Reaction and Strategy

During the post-match presentation, Abhishek responded to Yuvraj's remarks about the 12-ball half-century milestone:

"I don't know what cricket he was playing back at that time, but it's not that easy at all... You can't just go and score 50 off 12 balls. It just happens once in a while."

The left-hander explained that the primary objective alongside teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was not chasing personal records, but maximizing the powerplay and putting pressure on the New Zealand bowlers. Sooryavanshi contributed 45 runs off 19 balls, as the opening pair added 133 runs in 7.1 overs.

Verification and Practical Implications

Fans and analysts can verify these details through official Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) match reports, New Zealand Cricket scorecards, and authorized broadcast highlights. The series continues as India holds a 3-0 lead in the five-match contest.