India opener Abhishek Sharma has been admitted to a Delhi hospital with a stomach infection ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 match against Namibia on February 12 at Arun Jaitley Stadium. 

T20 WC: Abhishek Sharma Hospitalised Ahead of India-Namibia Clash

In a massive blow to the Indian Cricket Team, opener Abhishek Sharma is unavailable for the upcoming T20 World Cup league match against Namibia on Thursday (Feb 12) after suffering a stomach bug, for which he was hospitalised on Monday. The latest reports claim that the attacking left-hander has been under observation for the past two days, and remains a potential doubt for the Delhi tie. Furthermore, his participation in the marquee Pakistan match in Colombo this Sunday (Feb 15) would depend on his recovery.&nbsp;"Abhishek has been admitted to a private hospital in Delhi due to stomach infection," a BCCI source said in a chat with PTI. "Some tests are being done to ascertain the problem. It is still not clear whether he will be discharged today. But the match against Namibia looks doubtful as of now." &nbsp;Against the USA in India’s T20 World Cup opener, Abhishek got out on a first-ball duck, after being caught at deep cover inside the first over. As he didn’t take the field in the second innings, India’s assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate confirmed that Abhishek was recovering from a stomach bug.&nbsp; &nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-2026-big-blow-to-black-caps-as-star-all-rounder-ruled-out-due-to-injury-1770744276081">T20 World Cup 2026: Big blow to Black Caps as star all-rounder ruled out due to injury</a>&nbsp;"Abhi (Abhishek) still has got a few issues with his tummy," ten Doeschate said in the post-match presser. "We are hopeful that he'll be available for the game in two days' time." &nbsp;Should Abhishek fail to recover in time for the Namibia game, India has his backup in gloveman Sanju Samson, who failed to make it to the playing XI for the first game due to his shallow run of form in the lead-up to the tournament. Ishan Kishan, the batter in top-notch touch, replaced him at the top against the USA.&nbsp; &nbsp;"We're waiting on Abhi's fitness more than anything, and that'll open up, again, a few different combinations," ten Doeschate said at the same press meet.<h2>Bumrah, Washington available for selection</h2>On the flip side, Jasprit Bumrah and Washington Sundar are available for selection for the Namibia game after missing out on the opener. While Bumrah remained on the sidelines due to illness, Sundar re-linked with the squad after the USA tie, having recovered from the side tear he suffered during the New Zealand ODIs earlier. &nbsp;Sundar batted and bowled in the nets on Tuesday, and Bumrah also returned to practising for Team India’s second match of this 20-team tournament.&nbsp;

Abhishek Sharma hospitalised with a stomach bug; doubtful for India’s T20 WC games against Namibia and Pakistan. Get the latest injury updates here

In a massive blow to the Indian Cricket Team, opener Abhishek Sharma is unavailable for the upcoming T20 World Cup league match against Namibia on Thursday (Feb 12) after suffering a stomach bug, for which he was hospitalised on Monday. The latest reports claim that the attacking left-hander has been under observation for the past two days, and remains a potential doubt for the Delhi tie. Furthermore, his participation in the marquee Pakistan match in Colombo this Sunday (Feb 15) would depend on his recovery. "Abhishek has been admitted to a private hospital in Delhi due to stomach infection," a BCCI source said in a chat with PTI. "Some tests are being done to ascertain the problem. It is still not clear whether he will be discharged today. But the match against Namibia looks doubtful as of now." Against the USA in India’s T20 World Cup opener, Abhishek got out on a first-ball duck, after being caught at deep cover inside the first over. As he didn’t take the field in the second innings, India’s assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate confirmed that Abhishek was recovering from a stomach bug. Also read | T20 World Cup 2026: Big blow to Black Caps as star all-rounder ruled out due to injury "Abhi (Abhishek) still has got a few issues with his tummy," ten Doeschate said in the post-match presser. "We are hopeful that he'll be available for the game in two days' time." Should Abhishek fail to recover in time for the Namibia game, India has his backup in gloveman Sanju Samson, who failed to make it to the playing XI for the first game due to his shallow run of form in the lead-up to the tournament. Ishan Kishan, the batter in top-notch touch, replaced him at the top against the USA. "We're waiting on Abhi's fitness more than anything, and that'll open up, again, a few different combinations," ten Doeschate said at the same press meet. Bumrah, Washington available for selection On the flip side, Jasprit Bumrah and Washington Sundar are available for selection for the Namibia game after missing out on the opener. While Bumrah remained on the sidelines due to illness, Sundar re-linked with the squad after the USA tie, having recovered from the side tear he suffered during the New Zealand ODIs earlier. Sundar batted and bowled in the nets on Tuesday, and Bumrah also returned to practising for Team India’s second match of this 20-team tournament.

Abhishek Sharma was hospitalised on Monday and remained under observation since. He remains a doubt for the Namibia game.&nbsp;

Blow to India: Hospitalised Abhishek Sharma doubtful for Namibia, Pakistan T20 WC matches

Former Delhi Capitals coach and Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has revealed that he 'pleaded' the IPL franchise to not trade India opener Abhishek Sharma. The DC coach is now with Punjab Kings and Abhishek plays for SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). Ponting said he found Abhishek special one he saw him bat but he was traded to SRH where he forms one half of the destructive opening combination with Travis Head. Abhishek is now also one of the most fearsome attacking openers in the world cricket, set to play his first ICC tournament in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 which begins on Feb 7.<h2>Ponting reveals he pleaded DC to not trade Abhishek</h2>"I was his first IPL coach," Ponting said on the ICC review. "He debuted with me, I think as a 17-year-old at Delhi and made an immediate impact. I think he hit his first ball for four or six straight back over the bowler's head with that classical sort of straight bat and held the pose. And you could just see then as a 17-year-old that there was something extra special.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-warns-pcb-of-legal-action-from-indian-broadcaster-jiostar-after-t20-world-cup-match-boycott-threat-1770129040457">ICC warns PCB of legal action from JioStar after India match boycott threat</a>"We ended up trading him away from Delhi, but I pleaded and pleaded and pleaded and said, please don't do this. We've got to [keep him], there's an absolute superstar in the making here. And that's what it's turned out to be. I've got really high hopes for him this time."Abhishek had hit unbeaten 46 off 19 balls on his IPL debut while playing for Delhi Capitals. He is now a rock at the top for SRH, hitting 1753 runs in 71 innings for them, at a strike rate of 162.16.<h2>Abhishek's failure makes India vulnerable</h2>Ponting also opined that Abhishek's form would be crucial for India's defence of the T20 World Cup. "[It's] a real positive to be honest. He can be the leading run-scorer and potentially the Player of the Tournament. That's how good I think he is. And if he does, that makes India even harder to beat. If he doesn't, then they're as vulnerable as anybody else. So that's how important I think he is to this World Cup for India."

Abhishek had hit unbeaten 46 off 19 balls on his IPL debut while playing for Delhi Capitals. He is now a rock at the top for SRH, hitting 1753 runs in 71 innings for them, at a strike rate of 162.16.

Former Delhi Capitals coach and Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has revealed that he 'pleaded' the IPL franchise to not trade India opener Abhishek Sharma. The DC coach is now with Punjab Kings and Abhishek plays for SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). Ponting said he found Abhishek special one he saw him bat but he was traded to SRH where he forms one half of the destructive opening combination with Travis Head. Abhishek is now also one of the most fearsome attacking openers in the world cricket, set to play his first ICC tournament in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 which begins on Feb 7. Ponting reveals he pleaded DC to not trade Abhishek "I was his first IPL coach," Ponting said on the ICC review. "He debuted with me, I think as a 17-year-old at Delhi and made an immediate impact. I think he hit his first ball for four or six straight back over the bowler's head with that classical sort of straight bat and held the pose. And you could just see then as a 17-year-old that there was something extra special. Also Read: ICC warns PCB of legal action from JioStar after India match boycott threat "We ended up trading him away from Delhi, but I pleaded and pleaded and pleaded and said, please don't do this. We've got to [keep him], there's an absolute superstar in the making here. And that's what it's turned out to be. I've got really high hopes for him this time." Abhishek had hit unbeaten 46 off 19 balls on his IPL debut while playing for Delhi Capitals. He is now a rock at the top for SRH, hitting 1753 runs in 71 innings for them, at a strike rate of 162.16. Abhishek's failure makes India vulnerable Ponting also opined that Abhishek's form would be crucial for India's defence of the T20 World Cup. "[It's] a real positive to be honest. He can be the leading run-scorer and potentially the Player of the Tournament. That's how good I think he is. And if he does, that makes India even harder to beat. If he doesn't, then they're as vulnerable as anybody else. So that's how important I think he is to this World Cup for India."

Abhishek had hit unbeaten 46 off 19 balls on his IPL debut while playing for Delhi Capitals. He is now a rock at the top for SRH, hitting 1753 runs in 71 innings for them, at a strike rate of 162.16.

'I pleaded and pleaded': Ponting on asking DC to not trade Abhishek in IPL

From Phil Salt to Tilak Varma, here's a look at the top five batters in latest ICC T20I rankings 2026. This list also includes Abhishek Sharma, Jos Buttler and Sahibzada Farhan

From Phil Salt to Tilak Varma, top 5 batters in latest ICC T20I rankings 2026

From Suryakumar Yadav to Shimron Hetmyer, here's a look at the top five batters with most T20I runs in Jan 2026. This list also includes Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma and Brandon King

Meet top 5 batters with most T20I runs in Jan 2026

From Abhishek Sharma to Shivam Dube here is a look at five Indian batters with fastest fifties in the ongoing IND vs NZ T20I series. The honourable list consists of names like Shivam Dube and skipper Suryakumar Yadav. 

From Abhishek Sharma to Shivam Dube, 5 Indian batters with fastest fifties in IND vs NZ T20I series

India captain Suryakumar Yadav moved up five places to seventh with 717 points in the latest ICC men’s T20I batting rankings on Wednesday (Jan 28). His rise comes after strong performances in the ongoing five-match home series against New Zealand, where he scored 32, 82 not out and 57 not out in the first three matches, helping India take a 3-0 lead in the series. India continue to dominate the top of the rankings with star opener Abhishek Sharma holding the number one spot with 929 points and Tilak Varma placed third with 781 points.&nbsp;Ishan Kishan has returned to the rankings at 64th after scoring a quick 76 off 32 balls in the second match at Raipur. Shivam Dube climbed nine spots to 58th, while Rinku Singh jumped 13 places to 68th, reflecting India’s strong batting depth.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wpl-2026-major-blow-for-up-warriorz-as-star-batter-ruled-out-replacement-named-1769587586892">WPL 2026: Major blow for UP Warriorz as star batter ruled out, replacement named</a>&nbsp;Afghanistan batters also made good progress after their 2-1 series win over the West Indies in Dubai. Opener Ibrahim Zadran moved up to 13th place with 648 points and Rahmanullah Gurbaz rose to 15th. Player of the Series Darwish Rasooli climbed 29 places to 87th after scoring 156 runs.&nbsp;South African captain Aiden Markram also entered the top 20 following his unbeaten 86 off 47 balls against the West Indies. West Indies batter Brandon King moved up to 35th, while New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips reached 44th.&nbsp;In the T20I bowling rankings, Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman moved up to ninth with 656 points after taking four wickets against the West Indies. India’s Jasprit Bumrah rose to 13th with 640 points and Ravi Bishnoi to 19th.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-nz-4th-t20i-when-and-where-to-watch-india-vs-new-zealand-match-live-streaming-in-india-1769584666037">IND vs NZ, 4th T20I: When and where to watch match live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;Hardik Pandya also made huge gains, jumping 18 places to 59th among bowlers after taking four wickets in three matches. He also moved up to 53rd among batters and remains third among all-rounders.&nbsp;In ODI rankings, England batters Harry Brook and Joe Root moved up after helping England win a 2-1 series in Sri Lanka. Brook climbed to 11th position with 660 points , while Root rose to 17th with 632 points. Among ODI bowlers, England leg-spinner Adil Rashid moved up to fifth after taking seven wickets.&nbsp;

India continue to dominate the top of the rankings with star opener Abhishek Sharma holding the number one spot with 929 points and Tilak Varma placed third with 781 points.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav moved up five places to seventh with 717 points in the latest ICC men’s T20I batting rankings on Wednesday (Jan 28). His rise comes after strong performances in the ongoing five-match home series against New Zealand, where he scored 32, 82 not out and 57 not out in the first three matches, helping India take a 3-0 lead in the series. India continue to dominate the top of the rankings with star opener Abhishek Sharma holding the number one spot with 929 points and Tilak Varma placed third with 781 points. Ishan Kishan has returned to the rankings at 64th after scoring a quick 76 off 32 balls in the second match at Raipur. Shivam Dube climbed nine spots to 58th, while Rinku Singh jumped 13 places to 68th, reflecting India’s strong batting depth. Also Read - WPL 2026: Major blow for UP Warriorz as star batter ruled out, replacement named Afghanistan batters also made good progress after their 2-1 series win over the West Indies in Dubai. Opener Ibrahim Zadran moved up to 13th place with 648 points and Rahmanullah Gurbaz rose to 15th. Player of the Series Darwish Rasooli climbed 29 places to 87th after scoring 156 runs. South African captain Aiden Markram also entered the top 20 following his unbeaten 86 off 47 balls against the West Indies. West Indies batter Brandon King moved up to 35th, while New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips reached 44th. In the T20I bowling rankings, Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman moved up to ninth with 656 points after taking four wickets against the West Indies. India’s Jasprit Bumrah rose to 13th with 640 points and Ravi Bishnoi to 19th. Also Read - IND vs NZ, 4th T20I: When and where to watch match live streaming in India? Hardik Pandya also made huge gains, jumping 18 places to 59th among bowlers after taking four wickets in three matches. He also moved up to 53rd among batters and remains third among all-rounders. In ODI rankings, England batters Harry Brook and Joe Root moved up after helping England win a 2-1 series in Sri Lanka. Brook climbed to 11th position with 660 points , while Root rose to 17th with 632 points. Among ODI bowlers, England leg-spinner Adil Rashid moved up to fifth after taking seven wickets.

India continue to dominate the top of the rankings with star opener Abhishek Sharma holding the number one spot with 929 points and Tilak Varma placed third with 781 points.

ICC T20I Rankings: Suryakumar Yadav jumps five spots to seventh, Abhishek stays on top

Indian T20 cricket has advanced tenfold since its inception, with several superstars emerging. Here, we look at the top five batters with the quickest T20I fifty to their name.

Meet 5 batters to hit the fastest T20I fifty for India; current star on no 2

Yuvraj Singh was one of cricket’s biggest match winners, let alone for India, and what he has trained in Abhishek Sharma has done wonders for India since.&nbsp;Abhishek is Team India’s premier T20I opener, surging to top form since elevating his hitting game playing for the SunRisers Hyderabad in the IPL. While it hasn’t been long since he made his India debut, Abhishek is breaking batting records for fun, be it for his strike-rate, number of sixes in a game or for the quickest fifty and hundreds in the format.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-nz-abhishek-sharma-s-blitzkrieg-sweeps-new-zealand-in-guwahati-india-pocket-t20i-series-3-0-1769357449038">IND vs NZ: Abhishek's blitzkrieg sweeps New Zealand in Guwahati, India pocket T20I series 3-0</a> &nbsp;Against New Zealand in the recently concluded 3rd T20I in Guwahati, he almost broke his mentor Yuvraj’s fastest T20I fifty record (12 balls), scoring his in 14 balls, the second quickest for India in T20Is. The left-armer knows his strengths and weaknesses, having openly talked about them earlier during this series, including having a limited range of shots. Despite that, he has managed to scale heights in this trending format, making everyone proud, including Yuvraj, who took to his social media handle (X) to take a sly dig at him while expressing pride over his performance. &nbsp;“Still can’t get a 50 off 12 balls, can you? 🤪 Well played - keep going strong! 💪🏻 @OfficialAbhi04 #IndVSNz,” Yuvraj wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Still can’t get a 50 off 12 balls, can you? 🤪 Well played - keep going strong! 💪🏻 <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialAbhi04?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OfficialAbhi04</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndVSNz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndVSNz</a> <a href="https://t.co/6MQe1p6sx4">pic.twitter.com/6MQe1p6sx4</a>&mdash; Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) <a href="https://twitter.com/YUVSTRONG12/status/2015464254967808415?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, sharing his thoughts on his 14-ball fifty, the fastest for India in this series, Abhishek said, “That's what my team wants from me, and I just want to execute all the time. But obviously, it's not easy to do it every time, but I think it's all about mental as well and the atmosphere you get around your dressing room as well. &nbsp;Speaking on breaking Yuvraj’s 12-ball fifty record, the Indian opener said it’s almost impossible (for anyone) to do so. &nbsp;“That's more than impossible for anyone (to break Yuvraj's fastest T20 fifty record), but still, you never know. Any batsman could do it because I think all the batters have been batting really well in this series as well, and going forward, it's going to be fun,” Abhishek said. &nbsp;In Guwahati, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to field first. Restricting the Kiwis to 153 for nine in the first innings, the hosts gave themselves a strong chance to seal the series, which they eventually did (3-0). &nbsp;After India lost opener Sanju Samson early for the second game running, Abhishek and Ishan Kishan went berserk, stitching a 50-plus stand inside four overs. Kishan departed next on a 13-ball 28, before Suryakumar and Abhishek added 102 for the third wicket to see India home with 10 overs and eight wickets remaining.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fantastic striking on display in Guwahati 🤩 An unbeaten 💯-run partnership seals the chase for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a>! Scorecard ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/YzRfqi0li2">https://t.co/YzRfqi0li2</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvNZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvNZ</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/IDFCFIRSTBank?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IDFCFIRSTBank</a> ️ <a href="https://t.co/CuV4IxcnGh">pic.twitter.com/CuV4IxcnGh</a>&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/2015457393124262340?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Abhishek remained unbeaten on 68 off 20 balls, smashing five sixes and seven fours. Captain SKY completed his consecutive fifty, registering 57 not out, including three sixes and six fours.

Abhishek Sharma now holds the record for the second-fastest fifty for India in the men's T20Is.

Yuvraj Singh was one of cricket’s biggest match winners, let alone for India, and what he has trained in Abhishek Sharma has done wonders for India since. Abhishek is Team India’s premier T20I opener, surging to top form since elevating his hitting game playing for the SunRisers Hyderabad in the IPL. While it hasn’t been long since he made his India debut, Abhishek is breaking batting records for fun, be it for his strike-rate, number of sixes in a game or for the quickest fifty and hundreds in the format. Also read | IND vs NZ: Abhishek's blitzkrieg sweeps New Zealand in Guwahati, India pocket T20I series 3-0 Against New Zealand in the recently concluded 3rd T20I in Guwahati, he almost broke his mentor Yuvraj’s fastest T20I fifty record (12 balls), scoring his in 14 balls, the second quickest for India in T20Is. The left-armer knows his strengths and weaknesses, having openly talked about them earlier during this series, including having a limited range of shots. Despite that, he has managed to scale heights in this trending format, making everyone proud, including Yuvraj, who took to his social media handle (X) to take a sly dig at him while expressing pride over his performance. “Still can’t get a 50 off 12 balls, can you? 🤪 Well played - keep going strong! 💪🏻 @OfficialAbhi04 #IndVSNz,” Yuvraj wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Abhishek Sharma now holds the record for the second-fastest fifty for India in the men's T20Is.

IND vs NZ 3rd T20I: Mentor Yuvraj takes sly dig at Abhishek Sharma’s 14-ball fifty, says ‘still can’t get…’

Abhishek Sharma was hot on his heels on Sunday (Jan 25) as India beat New Zealand by eight wickets in the third T20I of the five-match series. Playing at the Playing at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, it was Abhishek’s 12-ball fifty that sealed the deal for the hosts as they won the series 3-0 with T20 World Cup less than two weeks away. India also had captain Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah to thank as they contributed to the winning cause.<h2>Abhishek reigns supreme</h2>Tasked to chase 154 runs to win, India made the worst possible start as they lost Sanju Samson (0) on the first ball of the innings. However, that did not make a huge difference for India as Ishan Kishan (28 off 13) and Abhishek scored runs left, right and centre. &nbsp;The pair stitched a stand of 53 runs for the second wicket before captain Suryakumar Yadav joined the party.&nbsp;Abhishek, with his exploit, scored the second-fastest T20I fifty for India as he brought that tally in just 14 balls. He narrowly missed out on breaking Yuvraj Singh’s record for fastest T20I fifty for India, with the former batter doing so in 12 balls against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a><h2>Quickest 50 against a FM team (by balls)</h2>12 balls Yuvraj Singh vs Eng Durban 200713 balls Jan Frylinck vs Zim Bulawayo 202514 balls Colin Munro vs SL Auckland 201614 balls Abhishek Sharma vs NZ Guwahati 2026 *15 Quinton de Kock vs WI Centurion 2023&nbsp;In the end, an unbeaten 68 off 20 for Abhishek and 57 off 26 for captain Suryakumar Yadav saw India win the match with 10 overs to spare. They also pocketed the series 3-0 with two matches still to go in the series.<h2>What happened in New Zealand innings?</h2>On the first ball of the sixth over, Bumrah’s perfectly delivered ball got the better of Seifert as he was dismissed for 12 off 11. It was New Zealand’s third wicket, having already lost Devon Conway (1) in the first over, while Rachin Ravindra (4) was swept by Hardik Pandya in the next over. Interestingly, Conway was dismissed for the fifth time by Harshit Rana, gaining the upper hand on the batter. However, it was Burmah’s delivery against Seifert that made the headlines.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;After Seifert’s dismissal, New Zealand were34/3 in 5.1 overs, Glenn Phillips (48 off 40) and Mark Chapman (32 off 23) stabilising the innings. Chapman was dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi as he produced the breakthrough for the Men in Blue. New Zealand would soon go from 86/3 to 112/6, losing key wickets in the middle overs.&nbsp;Ultimately, the Kiwis were restricted to 153/9 in their 20 overs, with captain Mitchell Santner playing a key knock of 27 runs.&nbsp;For India, Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 17/3 in four overs, while Hardik Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi bagged two wickets each.

Playing at the Playing at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, it was Abhishek Sharma’s 12-ball fifty that sealed the deal for the hosts as they won the series 3-0 with T20 World Cup less than two weeks away. 

Abhishek Sharma was hot on his heels on Sunday (Jan 25) as India beat New Zealand by eight wickets in the third T20I of the five-match series. Playing at the Playing at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, it was Abhishek’s 12-ball fifty that sealed the deal for the hosts as they won the series 3-0 with T20 World Cup less than two weeks away. India also had captain Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah to thank as they contributed to the winning cause. Abhishek reigns supreme Tasked to chase 154 runs to win, India made the worst possible start as they lost Sanju Samson (0) on the first ball of the innings. However, that did not make a huge difference for India as Ishan Kishan (28 off 13) and Abhishek scored runs left, right and centre. The pair stitched a stand of 53 runs for the second wicket before captain Suryakumar Yadav joined the party. Abhishek, with his exploit, scored the second-fastest T20I fifty for India as he brought that tally in just 14 balls. He narrowly missed out on breaking Yuvraj Singh’s record for fastest T20I fifty for India, with the former batter doing so in 12 balls against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds Quickest 50 against a FM team (by balls) 12 balls Yuvraj Singh vs Eng Durban 2007 13 balls Jan Frylinck vs Zim Bulawayo 2025 14 balls Colin Munro vs SL Auckland 2016 14 balls Abhishek Sharma vs NZ Guwahati 2026 * 15 Quinton de Kock vs WI Centurion 2023 In the end, an unbeaten 68 off 20 for Abhishek and 57 off 26 for captain Suryakumar Yadav saw India win the match with 10 overs to spare. They also pocketed the series 3-0 with two matches still to go in the series. What happened in New Zealand innings? On the first ball of the sixth over, Bumrah’s perfectly delivered ball got the better of Seifert as he was dismissed for 12 off 11. It was New Zealand’s third wicket, having already lost Devon Conway (1) in the first over, while Rachin Ravindra (4) was swept by Hardik Pandya in the next over. Interestingly, Conway was dismissed for the fifth time by Harshit Rana, gaining the upper hand on the batter. However, it was Burmah’s delivery against Seifert that made the headlines. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli After Seifert’s dismissal, New Zealand were34/3 in 5.1 overs, Glenn Phillips (48 off 40) and Mark Chapman (32 off 23) stabilising the innings. Chapman was dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi as he produced the breakthrough for the Men in Blue. New Zealand would soon go from 86/3 to 112/6, losing key wickets in the middle overs. Ultimately, the Kiwis were restricted to 153/9 in their 20 overs, with captain Mitchell Santner playing a key knock of 27 runs. For India, Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 17/3 in four overs, while Hardik Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi bagged two wickets each.

Playing at the Playing at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, it was Abhishek Sharma’s 12-ball fifty that sealed the deal for the hosts as they won the series 3-0 with T20 World Cup less than two weeks away.&nbsp;

IND vs NZ: Abhishek's blitzkrieg sweeps New Zealand in Guwahati, India pocket T20I series 3-0

From Abhishek Sharma to Shubman Gill here is a look at five Indian batters with highest individual IPL scores. The illustrious list also contains the names KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Murali Vijay. 

Meet 5 Indian batters with highest individual IPL score ft Abhishek Sharma

From Abhishek Sharma to Virat Kohli, here's a look at the top five Indian batters fastest to 5000 T20 runs. This list also includes KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shubman Gill

Meet top 5 Indian batters fastest to 5000 T20 runs

India opener Abhishek Sharma continued his destructive form but fell just short of his third T20I hundred, scoring a match-winning 84 against New Zealand in the first T20I on Wednesday (Jan 21). During his knock, Abhishek hit eight huge sixes and five fours and helped his team to win the match by 48 runs. He also reached the 5,000 career runs in T20s. After being named Player of the Match at the post-match presentation, Abhishek spoke about his batting approach, saying he prefers to keep his game simple and focuses on practicing a few shots repeatedly so he can execute them confidently in matches&nbsp;“I feel if you watch videos or if you watch your batting videos as well, you get an idea that where the ball is gonna, you know, planning to bowl you or maybe where I’m gonna play my shots. But it’s always about me backing my shots because I don’t have a lot of shots. It’s just a few shots I’m gonna practice a lot about that and I’ll just execute it,” said Abhishek. &nbsp;Abhishek further said that he does not see his aggressive six-hitting style as a high-risk one and enjoys batting at the top, especially in the first six overs, which is something he has practiced a lot.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bbl-15-babar-azam-leaves-sydney-sixers-to-link-up-with-pakistan-team-for-camp-1769067745572">Babar Azam cuts short BBL 15 tenure with Sixers to link up with Pakistan for team camp</a>&nbsp;“I don’t feel it’s a high risk, but for me, it’s, I feel this is my, I wouldn’t say it’s my comfort zone, but it’s like I’ve always wanted to be in first because they want to give you the first six overs and that’s what I’ve been practicing before the nets as well. And that was always in my mind if I do because if you see all the bowlers, all the main bowlers and you know, from all the teams, they bowl first, second, three overs probably. And if I get scores in the first three, four overs, then, you know, we have always got the upper hand,” he added. &nbsp;&nbsp;In the first T20I, apart from Abhishek, Rinku Singh also made a strong comeback and scored an unbeaten 44 off 20 balls, while Suryakumar Yadav made 32 off 22 and Hardik Pandya contributed 25 off 16. Their combine efforts helped India to post a big total of 238/7.&nbsp;Chasing 239, New Zealand managed to score only 190/7 in 20 overs. Glenn Phillips top-scored with 78 off 40 balls, while Mark Chapman contributed 39. For India, Varun Chakaravarthy and Shivam Dube took two wickets each, while Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel picked up one wicket apiece.&nbsp;

During his 84-run knock, Abhishek hit eight huge sixes and five fours, helping his team win the match by 48 runs. He was also named Player of the Match for his brilliant batting performance.

India opener Abhishek Sharma continued his destructive form but fell just short of his third T20I hundred, scoring a match-winning 84 against New Zealand in the first T20I on Wednesday (Jan 21). During his knock, Abhishek hit eight huge sixes and five fours and helped his team to win the match by 48 runs. He also reached the 5,000 career runs in T20s. After being named Player of the Match at the post-match presentation, Abhishek spoke about his batting approach, saying he prefers to keep his game simple and focuses on practicing a few shots repeatedly so he can execute them confidently in matches “I feel if you watch videos or if you watch your batting videos as well, you get an idea that where the ball is gonna, you know, planning to bowl you or maybe where I’m gonna play my shots. But it’s always about me backing my shots because I don’t have a lot of shots. It’s just a few shots I’m gonna practice a lot about that and I’ll just execute it,” said Abhishek. Abhishek further said that he does not see his aggressive six-hitting style as a high-risk one and enjoys batting at the top, especially in the first six overs, which is something he has practiced a lot. Also Read - Babar Azam cuts short BBL 15 tenure with Sixers to link up with Pakistan for team camp “I don’t feel it’s a high risk, but for me, it’s, I feel this is my, I wouldn’t say it’s my comfort zone, but it’s like I’ve always wanted to be in first because they want to give you the first six overs and that’s what I’ve been practicing before the nets as well. And that was always in my mind if I do because if you see all the bowlers, all the main bowlers and you know, from all the teams, they bowl first, second, three overs probably. And if I get scores in the first three, four overs, then, you know, we have always got the upper hand,” he added. In the first T20I, apart from Abhishek, Rinku Singh also made a strong comeback and scored an unbeaten 44 off 20 balls, while Suryakumar Yadav made 32 off 22 and Hardik Pandya contributed 25 off 16. Their combine efforts helped India to post a big total of 238/7. Chasing 239, New Zealand managed to score only 190/7 in 20 overs. Glenn Phillips top-scored with 78 off 40 balls, while Mark Chapman contributed 39. For India, Varun Chakaravarthy and Shivam Dube took two wickets each, while Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel picked up one wicket apiece.

During his 84-run knock, Abhishek hit eight huge sixes and five fours, helping his team win the match by 48 runs. He was also named Player of the Match for his brilliant batting performance.

'I don’t feel it’s high risk': Abhishek Sharma on his six-hitting approach in T20Is

India started their 2026 T20I campaign on a winning note as they beat New Zealand in the opening T20I of the five-match series on Wednesday (Jan 21). Playing at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Nagpur, Abhishek Sharma was the star of the show as he scored 84 runs and completed 5000 T20 runs to help India win. The 48-run win for India sees them lead 1-0 in the series as they made a perfect start to their final series before entering the T20 World Cup, which starts on Feb 7 on home soil.<h2>India edge New Zealand</h2>Tasked with chasing a massive 239-run target, New Zealand did not have the best of starts as they lost Devon Conway on the second ball of the innings. The BlackCaps were soon 1-2 as they also lost Rachin Ravindra (1) on the third ball of the second over before Tim Robinson (21) and Glenn Phillips (78) steadied the ship with a good 51-run stand for the third wicket. Phillips was the aggressor of the two as he scored 78 off 40 and looked to have his side in the contest.&nbsp;However, Phillips’s wicket, coupled with a lack of big partnerships, saw the visitors lose ground and ultimately fall short of the target. Phillips and Mark Chapman (39 off 24) also had a healthy 79-run partnership, but the duo could not help New Zealand avoid the defeat.<h2>What happened earlier?</h2>Earlier, India hammered 238/7 batting first, their 44th 200-plus score in T20I cricket. South Africa are second with eight 200-plus scores in the format, followed by Australia with seven and Sri Lanka with six. India's 44th 200-plus score is also the most in T20 cricket, surpassing Somerset, who have notched up 40 200-plus totals in the shortest format. Abhishek Sharma scored 84 off 35 deliveries and completed 500 runs in the T20 format. He reached the landmark in 2988 deliveries, whereas all-rounder Andre Russell reached it in 2942 balls.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a>&nbsp;Additionally, a 22-ball fifty by Abhishek Sharma was also the quickest fifty in terms of balls faced for India against New Zealand in T20Is. The previous fastest was 23 balls each by KL Rahul (Auckland, 2020) &nbsp;and Rohit Sharma (Hamilton, 2020). Coming to the match, a blistering knock by opener Abhishek and valuable contributions from Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh and captain Suryakumar Yadav helped Team India to post a daunting 238/7 runs in 20 overs against New Zealand in the first T20I.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;Indian captain Suryakumar made 32 off 22 deliveries, including four boundaries and one six. Hardik &nbsp;scored 25 runs off 16 deliveries, including three fours and one six. Towards the end, left-handed batter Rinku slammed an unbeaten 44 off 20 deliveries, including four boundaries and three sixes. With the ball, speedster Jacob Duffy (2/27) had good figures for New Zealand.

The 48-run win for India sees them lead 1-0 in the series as they made a perfect start to their final series before entering the T20 World Cup, which starts on Feb 7 on home soil.

India started their 2026 T20I campaign on a winning note as they beat New Zealand in the opening T20I of the five-match series on Wednesday (Jan 21). Playing at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Nagpur, Abhishek Sharma was the star of the show as he scored 84 runs and completed 5000 T20 runs to help India win. The 48-run win for India sees them lead 1-0 in the series as they made a perfect start to their final series before entering the T20 World Cup, which starts on Feb 7 on home soil. India edge New Zealand Tasked with chasing a massive 239-run target, New Zealand did not have the best of starts as they lost Devon Conway on the second ball of the innings. The BlackCaps were soon 1-2 as they also lost Rachin Ravindra (1) on the third ball of the second over before Tim Robinson (21) and Glenn Phillips (78) steadied the ship with a good 51-run stand for the third wicket. Phillips was the aggressor of the two as he scored 78 off 40 and looked to have his side in the contest. However, Phillips’s wicket, coupled with a lack of big partnerships, saw the visitors lose ground and ultimately fall short of the target. Phillips and Mark Chapman (39 off 24) also had a healthy 79-run partnership, but the duo could not help New Zealand avoid the defeat. What happened earlier? Earlier, India hammered 238/7 batting first, their 44th 200-plus score in T20I cricket. South Africa are second with eight 200-plus scores in the format, followed by Australia with seven and Sri Lanka with six. India's 44th 200-plus score is also the most in T20 cricket, surpassing Somerset, who have notched up 40 200-plus totals in the shortest format. Abhishek Sharma scored 84 off 35 deliveries and completed 500 runs in the T20 format. He reached the landmark in 2988 deliveries, whereas all-rounder Andre Russell reached it in 2942 balls. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds Additionally, a 22-ball fifty by Abhishek Sharma was also the quickest fifty in terms of balls faced for India against New Zealand in T20Is. The previous fastest was 23 balls each by KL Rahul (Auckland, 2020) and Rohit Sharma (Hamilton, 2020). Coming to the match, a blistering knock by opener Abhishek and valuable contributions from Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh and captain Suryakumar Yadav helped Team India to post a daunting 238/7 runs in 20 overs against New Zealand in the first T20I. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli Indian captain Suryakumar made 32 off 22 deliveries, including four boundaries and one six. Hardik scored 25 runs off 16 deliveries, including three fours and one six. Towards the end, left-handed batter Rinku slammed an unbeaten 44 off 20 deliveries, including four boundaries and three sixes. With the ball, speedster Jacob Duffy (2/27) had good figures for New Zealand.

The 48-run win for India sees them lead 1-0 in the series as they made a perfect start to their final series before entering the T20 World Cup, which starts on Feb 7 on home soil.

IND vs NZ: Abhishek Sharma dazzles in Orange City as Men in Blue start 2026 T20I campaign on winning note

India’s Abhishek Sharma joined an elite group of batters on Wednesday (Jan 21) as he played an entertaining 84-run knock against New Zealand. Playing at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium, Abhishek completed 5000 T20 runs and added another feather to his already impressive hat. However, he was unfortunate to miss out on a hundred before being dismissed by Ish Sodhi.<h2>Abhishek runs riot</h2>In what was a brilliant 2025, Abhishek continued his form from where he left off and scored 84 runs in his first innings of 2026. His brilliant innings consisted of 8 sixes and 5 fours and was striking at 240, having smashed all his runs in 35 deliveries. Abhishek was given a good helping hand by skipper Suryakumar Yadav (32 off 22) while Hardik Pandya also smashed 25 off 16.<h2>Most T20 runs for India</h2>1. Virat Kohli – 13543 Runs in 414 matches2. Rohit Sharma – 12248 Runs in 463 matches3. Shikhar Dhawan – 9797 Runs in 334 matches4. Suryakumar Yadav – 8975 Runs in 346 matches5. Suresh Raina – 8654 Runs in 336 matches23. Abhishek Sharma – 5002 Runs in 168 matches&nbsp;In the first T20I, India hammered 238/7 batting first, their 44th 200-plus score in T20I cricket. South Africa are second with eight 200-plus scores in the format, followed by Australia with seven and Sri Lanka with six.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;India's 44th 200-plus score is also the most in T20 cricket, surpassing Somerset, who have notched up 40 200-plus totals in the shortest format.&nbsp;Abhishek Sharma reached the landmark in 2988 deliveries, whereas all-rounder Andre Russell reached it in 2942 balls.&nbsp;Additionally, a 22-ball fifty by Abhishek Sharma was also the quickest fifty in terms of balls faced for India against New Zealand in T20Is. The previous fastest was 23 balls each by KL Rahul (Auckland, 2020) &amp; Rohit Sharma (Hamilton, 2020).&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a>&nbsp;Coming to the match, a blistering knock by opener Abhishek and valuable contributions from Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh and captain Suryakumar Yadav helped Team India to post a daunting 238/7 runs in 20 overs against New Zealand in the first T20I.&nbsp;Indian captain Suryakumar made 32 off 22 deliveries, including four boundaries and one six. Hardik &nbsp;scored 25 runs off 16 deliveries, including three fours and one six.&nbsp;Towards the end, left-handed batter Rinku slammed an unbeaten 44 off 20 deliveries, including four boundaries and three sixes. With the ball, speedster Jacob Duffy (2/27) had good figures for New Zealand. &nbsp;

Playing at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium, Abhishek Sharma completed 5000 T20 runs and added another feather to his already impressive hat. 

India’s Abhishek Sharma joined an elite group of batters on Wednesday (Jan 21) as he played an entertaining 84-run knock against New Zealand. Playing at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium, Abhishek completed 5000 T20 runs and added another feather to his already impressive hat. However, he was unfortunate to miss out on a hundred before being dismissed by Ish Sodhi. Abhishek runs riot In what was a brilliant 2025, Abhishek continued his form from where he left off and scored 84 runs in his first innings of 2026. His brilliant innings consisted of 8 sixes and 5 fours and was striking at 240, having smashed all his runs in 35 deliveries. Abhishek was given a good helping hand by skipper Suryakumar Yadav (32 off 22) while Hardik Pandya also smashed 25 off 16. Most T20 runs for India 1. Virat Kohli – 13543 Runs in 414 matches 2. Rohit Sharma – 12248 Runs in 463 matches 3. Shikhar Dhawan – 9797 Runs in 334 matches 4. Suryakumar Yadav – 8975 Runs in 346 matches 5. Suresh Raina – 8654 Runs in 336 matches 23. Abhishek Sharma – 5002 Runs in 168 matches In the first T20I, India hammered 238/7 batting first, their 44th 200-plus score in T20I cricket. South Africa are second with eight 200-plus scores in the format, followed by Australia with seven and Sri Lanka with six. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli India's 44th 200-plus score is also the most in T20 cricket, surpassing Somerset, who have notched up 40 200-plus totals in the shortest format. Abhishek Sharma reached the landmark in 2988 deliveries, whereas all-rounder Andre Russell reached it in 2942 balls. Additionally, a 22-ball fifty by Abhishek Sharma was also the quickest fifty in terms of balls faced for India against New Zealand in T20Is. The previous fastest was 23 balls each by KL Rahul (Auckland, 2020) & Rohit Sharma (Hamilton, 2020). ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds Coming to the match, a blistering knock by opener Abhishek and valuable contributions from Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh and captain Suryakumar Yadav helped Team India to post a daunting 238/7 runs in 20 overs against New Zealand in the first T20I. Indian captain Suryakumar made 32 off 22 deliveries, including four boundaries and one six. Hardik scored 25 runs off 16 deliveries, including three fours and one six. Towards the end, left-handed batter Rinku slammed an unbeaten 44 off 20 deliveries, including four boundaries and three sixes. With the ball, speedster Jacob Duffy (2/27) had good figures for New Zealand.

Playing at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium, Abhishek Sharma completed 5000 T20 runs and added another feather to his already impressive hat.&nbsp;

IND vs NZ: Abhishek Sharma joins elite list with entertaining knock, narrowly misses out on hundred

From Abhishek Sharma to Sanju Samson, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with highest strike rates in T20Is. This list also includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh and SuryaKumar Yadav

From Abhishek Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 Indian batters with highest strike rates in T20Is

From Yashasvi Jaiswal to Abhishek Sharma here is a look at five Indian batters with fastest IPL fifties. The list also features the likes of KL Rahul, Yusuf Pathan and Suresh Raina who have scored fastest fifties in the IPL. 

Meet 5 Indian batters with fastest IPL fifties ft Yashasvi Jaiswal

From Abhishek Sharma to Tilak Varma, here's a look at the top five batters in latest ICC T20I rankings 2026. This list also includes Phil Salt, Pathum Nissanka and Jos Buttler 

Meet top 5 batters in latest ICC T20I rankings 2026

From Shubman Gill to KL Rahul, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most runs in 2025. This list also includes Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Abhishek Sharma

Meet top 5 Indian batters with most runs in 2025, check who tops the list

Shubman Gill has returned to the drawing board following his shock T20 World Cup snub late last week. Picked as the new vice-captain for the recently concluded South Africa T20Is, Gill played the first three matches before getting sidelined for the remainder. While he remained in contention for a spot in the 15-man T20 WC squad, the selectors overlooked him at the last minute, picking Ishan Kishan in his place. Gill, however, has returned to the drawing board after being picked in the 18-man Punjab squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.&nbsp;Alongside Gill, T20I superstars and World Cup-bound players, opener Abhishek Sharma and seamer Arshdeep Singh, have also been named in the team, which starts its campaign against Maharashtra on December 24. Besides the three Indian internationals, Punjab has also picked Prabhsimran Singh, Naman Dhir, Anmolpreet Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Sanvir Singh and Harpreet Brar, with Gurnoor Brar and Krish Bhagat leading the pace attack.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-drops-shocking-revelation-reveals-the-moment-he-considered-announcing-retirement-1766383952449">Rohit drops shocking revelation, reveals moment he considered announcing retirement</a> &nbsp;While there remains no clarity on their availability for the season, with Team India scheduled to play New Zealand for three One-Dayers and five T20Is starting January 11, Gill, who is out of the T20I squad for the dress-rehearsal NZ series, will lead the One-Day side, which doesn’t include Arshdeep and Abhishek. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Punjab, which will play seven of its league matches in Jaipur this season, is placed alongside Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Goa and Mumbai in the group stage, which concludes on January 8.&nbsp; &nbsp;Getting knocked out in last season’s quarters, Punjab has not named a captain in their official statement.<h3>Punjab's Vijay Hazare Trophy squad -</h3>Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Harnoor Pannu, Anmolpreet Singh, Uday Saharan, Naman Dhir, Salil Arora (wk), Sanvir Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Jashanpreet Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Harpreet Brar, Raghu Sharma, Krish Bhagat, Gourav Choudhary and Sukhdeep Bajwa

Alongside Gill, T20I superstars opener Abhishek Sharma and seamer Arshdeep Singh have also been named in the team, which starts its campaign against Maharashtra on December 24.

Shubman Gill has returned to the drawing board following his shock T20 World Cup snub late last week. Picked as the new vice-captain for the recently concluded South Africa T20Is, Gill played the first three matches before getting sidelined for the remainder. While he remained in contention for a spot in the 15-man T20 WC squad, the selectors overlooked him at the last minute, picking Ishan Kishan in his place. Gill, however, has returned to the drawing board after being picked in the 18-man Punjab squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Alongside Gill, T20I superstars and World Cup-bound players, opener Abhishek Sharma and seamer Arshdeep Singh, have also been named in the team, which starts its campaign against Maharashtra on December 24. Besides the three Indian internationals, Punjab has also picked Prabhsimran Singh, Naman Dhir, Anmolpreet Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Sanvir Singh and Harpreet Brar, with Gurnoor Brar and Krish Bhagat leading the pace attack. Also read | Rohit drops shocking revelation, reveals moment he considered announcing retirement While there remains no clarity on their availability for the season, with Team India scheduled to play New Zealand for three One-Dayers and five T20Is starting January 11, Gill, who is out of the T20I squad for the dress-rehearsal NZ series, will lead the One-Day side, which doesn’t include Arshdeep and Abhishek. Meanwhile, Punjab, which will play seven of its league matches in Jaipur this season, is placed alongside Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Goa and Mumbai in the group stage, which concludes on January 8. Getting knocked out in last season’s quarters, Punjab has not named a captain in their official statement. Punjab's Vijay Hazare Trophy squad - Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Harnoor Pannu, Anmolpreet Singh, Uday Saharan, Naman Dhir, Salil Arora (wk), Sanvir Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Jashanpreet Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Harpreet Brar, Raghu Sharma, Krish Bhagat, Gourav Choudhary and Sukhdeep Bajwa

Alongside Gill, T20I superstars opener Abhishek Sharma and seamer Arshdeep Singh have also been named in the team, which starts its campaign against Maharashtra on December 24.

Shubman Gill returns to drawing board after T20 WC snub, to play for Punjab in Vijay Hazare Trophy

From Abhishek Sharma to Tilak Varma, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most T20I runs in 2025. This list also includes Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill and Sanju Samson

Meet top 5 Indian batters with most T20I runs in 2025, check who tops the list

From Sahibzada Farhan to Nicholas Pooran, here's a look at the top five batters with most T20 runs in 2025. This list also includes Shai Hope, Tim Seifert and Abhishek Sharma

Meet top 5 batters with most T20 runs in 2025, check who tops the list

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