Abhishek Sharma (Image ) NEW DELHI: Abhishek Sharma produced another attacking innings as India made a strong start against Pakistan in the gold medal match of the Asian Games 2026 at the Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Saturday.India opted to bat first after winning the toss, and Abhishek gave the team the perfect start.
The left-hander smashed a quick 61 off 28 balls, hitting seven sixes and giving India early momentum in the high-profile final.
Watch Naman Dhir on India's plans for the 3rd ODI, bowling role & playing at home Abhishek equals Yuvraj's six-hitting record Abhishek's seven sixes put him joint-top for the most sixes by an Indian batter in an India-Pakistan T20I innings.Most sixes in an innings in India-Pakistan T20Is:7 - Yuvraj Singh, Ahmedabad, 2012 7 - Abhishek Sharma, Aichi-Nagoya, 2026 5 - Abhishek Sharma, Dubai, 2025 Abhishek had also hit five sixes against Pakistan in the Asia Cup in Dubai in 2025.Abhishek leads India's six-hitting charts The 2026 innings also added to Abhishek's remarkable six-hitting record in T20 cricket.
He has now hit 104 sixes in T20 cricket in 2026, the most by an Indian batter in a calendar year.Most sixes by an Indian batter in T20s in a calendar year: 108 - Abhishek Sharma, 2025 104 - Abhishek Sharma, 2026 90 - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 2026 87 - Abhishek Sharma, 2024 85 - Suryakumar Yadav, 2022 Abhishek had already set the record with 108 sixes in 2025.
His 104 sixes in 2026 have taken him past Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has hit 90 sixes this year.India's best powerplay against Pakistan India also made a new record during the powerplay.
The team scored 81/2 in the first six overs, its highest powerplay score against Pakistan in T20Is.
India's previous best was 69/0, scored in the Super Fours match of the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai.Abhishek was the star of that powerplay too.
He scored 50 off 24 balls in that match, which was India's fastest fifty against Pakistan in T20Is at the time.Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines Abhishek reaches 100 sixes faster than most Abhishek's six-hitting numbers are even more impressive when measured by the number of balls he has faced.
He needed 651 balls to hit 100 sixes in T20 cricket in 2026.
That is the second-fastest mark for reaching 100 sixes in a calendar year.Fewest balls to hit 100 T20 sixes in a calendar year: 589 balls - Andre Russell, 2019 651 balls - Abhishek Sharma, 2026 653 balls - Dewald Brevis, 2025 724 balls - Chris Gayle, 2016 728 balls - Karanbir Singh, 2025 Abhishek's 651 balls are only two balls fewer than Brevis' 653, while Russell remains the fastest on the list with 589 balls.Among the fastest to 400 T20 sixes Abhishek has also reached the milestone of 400 sixes in T20 cricket faster than several big names in the format.
