Team India’s batting all-rounder Shivam Dube produced a scintillating 65 off just 23 balls against New Zealand in Visakhapatnam during the fourth T20I of the five-match series on Wednesday, January 28. However, his valiant effort went in vain as New Zealand clinched the match by 50 runs. With this consolation win, the visitors also avoided a series whitewash.
Asked to bat first by India, New Zealand posted an imposing 215/7, powered by Tim Seifert’s aggressive 62 off 36 balls. Seifert stitched together a 100-run opening stand with Devon Conway, who scored 44 off 23 deliveries, while Daryl Mitchell added the finishing touches with an unbeaten 39 off just 18 balls.
In response, India suffered early setbacks, losing Abhishek Sharma for a duck, Suryakumar Yadav for eight, and the out-of-form Sanju Samson for 24 off 15 balls. Rinku Singh (39 off 30) helped steady the innings before Dube unleashed a breathtaking counterattack. His explosive knock now features among the top five fastest T20I fifties by an Indian batter, a list that includes several illustrious names.
5. Abhishek Sharma (17 balls) vs England at Wankhede, February 2025
India’s ultra-aggressive opener Abhishek Sharma blasted his half-century off just 17 balls against England in the fifth T20I at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium in February 2025. He went on to smash a sensational century off 37 balls and was eventually dismissed for 135 off 54 deliveries, which stands as the highest individual score by an Indian batter in T20Is.
Abhishek brought up his blazing fifty with back-to-back sixes off Jamie Overton in the fifth over of India’s innings. The left-hander finished with seven fours and 13 sixes. Batting first, Team India piled up 247/9 in 20 overs before skittling England for 97 in 10.3 overs.
4. Hardik Pandya (16 balls) vs South Africa in Ahmedabad, December 2025
Experienced all-rounder Hardik Pandya cracked a 16-ball half-century against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad during the fifth T20I of the series in December 2025. Pandya scored a rapid 63 off 25 balls, including five fours and five sixes.
India posted a massive 231/5 batting first. Walking in at No. 5, Pandya made an instant impact, launching his first ball from Corbin Bosch over long-off for six. He then took George Linde apart with two sixes and two fours in the next over. Pandya reached his fifty with a six over deep midwicket off Bosch and was named Player of the Match as India won by 30 runs.
3. Shivam Dube (15 balls) vs New Zealand in Visakhapatnam, January 2026?
Shivam Dube raced to a 15-ball half-century in the fourth T20I against New Zealand in Visakhapatnam. Chasing 216, the powerful left-hander came in at No. 6 after Hardik Pandya’s dismissal, with India struggling at 63/4. Dube smashed three fours and seven sixes in a blistering 23-ball 65.
He launched his first delivery from Mitchell Santner over deep midwicket for six and later dismantled Ish Sodhi with three sixes and two fours in one over. Dube reached his fifty by flicking a full toss from Jacob Duffy for a maximum but was run out backing up at the non-striker’s end, ending India’s slim hopes.
2. Abhishek Sharma (14 balls) vs New Zealand in Guwahati, January 2026
Abhishek Sharma produced another explosive effort in the third T20I against New Zealand in Guwahati, hammering a half-century off just 14 balls. India cruised to an eight-wicket win to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series. Abhishek finished unbeaten on 68 off 20 balls, with seven fours and five sixes, as India chased 154 in just 10 overs.
He began with a six off his first ball from Jacob Duffy, followed by another maximum off Kyle Jamieson. Off the final ball of the powerplay, Abhishek clipped Duffy over fine leg for six to complete his lightning-fast fifty.
1. Yuvraj Singh (12 balls) vs England in Durban, September 2007
Yuvraj Singh still holds the record for the fastest T20I fifty by an Indian, reaching the milestone in just 12 balls against England in the Super 8 stage of the 2007 T20 World Cup in Durban. He smashed 58 off 16 balls, with three fours and seven sixes, as India posted 218/4 and went on to win by 18 runs.
Yuvraj arrived late in the innings and famously had a verbal exchange with Andrew Flintoff before hitting him for two fours. In the next over, he made history by smashing Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over, bringing up his stunning 12-ball half-century with a blow over wide mid-on. Only Dipendra Singh Airee, with a nine-ball fifty, has reached the milestone faster.
