Fri Jan 24 07:01:09 UTC 2025: ## Abhishek Sharma’s Blitz Propels India to Victory, Sets New T20 Record
**Chennai, India** – India will face England in the second T20I match of their five-match series in Chennai on Saturday. The first match, played in Kolkata, saw India secure a resounding 7-wicket victory, largely thanks to a stunning performance by young opener Abhishek Sharma.
Sharma’s explosive innings in Kolkata included 8 sixes and 5 fours, accumulating 79 runs off just 43 balls. His half-century, achieved in a mere 20 balls, is the second-fastest by an Indian in T20 Internationals against England. Remarkably, these 8 sixes propelled Sharma past the 200-six milestone in T20 cricket, making him the fastest Indian to reach this landmark in the shortest format, achieving it in only 125 innings. This achievement surpasses established players like KL Rahul, Nitish Rana, Yuvraj Singh, and others.
Sharma’s impressive feat extends beyond sixes. With an average of 183.06 runs in his first 12 T20I innings, he now boasts the highest strike rate among Indian players in their initial 12 T20I appearances, surpassing Rinku Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Suryakumar Yadav, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The second T20I match is highly anticipated, with Sharma’s performance setting a high bar for both teams. The series is proving to be a thrilling contest, showcasing young talent and exciting gameplay.
**(Separate Note: The concluding paragraph about restaurant owners’ concerns regarding Zomato and Swiggy is unrelated to the India-England T20 series and has been omitted from this news article.)**
First Piper 