The left-hander reached the record-breaking 69th six in the ninth over of the innings. While his partner Sanju Samson took the lead early on, Abhishek found himself restricted by the West Indies bowling attack, which kept his strike rate below 100 through the powerplay. He eventually broke the shackles against Shamar Springer, stepping down the pitch to launch the ball over the boundary and secure his place in history.
A Year of Highs and Lows for the Opener
The 2026 season has been a rollercoaster for the young opener. His campaign began with a blistering 84 off 35 balls against New Zealand in Nagpur, a knock that featured eight sixes. He followed this with an explosive unbeaten 68 off 20 deliveries in Guwahati, which included five more maximums. Despite these high-impact performances, his year also saw a challenging period where he recorded five ducks across his first eight innings, highlighting the volatility of his form throughout the season.
West Indies Post Formidable Total
While the spotlight was on the record, the match itself was dominated by a powerful batting display from the West Indies. Shai Hope led the charge with an unbeaten 102 off 50 balls, reaching his century with a six off the final delivery of the innings. Supported by Sherfane Rutherford, who finished on 49 not out from 26 balls, the pair put together a rapid 91-run partnership for the fourth wicket in just 43 balls.
The visitors finished their innings on 247/3, aided by 16 sixes and 18 extras conceded by the Indian bowlers. The hosts struggled for consistency, with both Mayank Yadav and Arshdeep Singh conceding 52 runs in their respective four-over spells. For Hope, the century marked his second of the series and his third in the T20I format, underscoring a prolific tour for the West Indies batter.
