India’s top 5 highest powerplay scores in men’s T20Is

Only four teams, including Australia, South Africa, and England had crossed the 100-run mark inside the powerplay of a T20I innings before India became the latest to celebrate the milestone during the third T20I against Afghanistan on September 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The Proteas were the first team to get the record against the West Indies in 2023.

When Afghanistan’s captain, Ibrahim Zadran, won the toss and decided to bowl first after defeats during the first couple of encounters, he perhaps had no idea of what was to come. The Indian opening batter, Abhishek Sharma, thanks to his record-breaking 30-ball century, broke several records, including India’s highest powerplay score ever in the men’s T20Is.

Top 5 highest powerplay scores for India in Men's T20I history

It’s always important for the teams to get a strong start with the bat inside the powerplay, and they expect it from their opening pair. Abhishek, since his debut in the shortest format for the blue brigade, has contributed immensely, in that department of the format-

Here are the top five highest powerplay scores for the Indian men’s side in T20Is-

#5 India’s 82/1 vs Afghanistan in 1st T20I, 2026 (New Delhi)-

During the opening T20I of the series against Afghanistan, India showed their muscles in the powerplay as they smacked 82 runs for the loss of one wicket. Despite losing Sanju Samson, Abhishek and Ishan Kishan killed it against the Zadra-led bowlers. The former ended up with 82 runs off 32 balls at a strike rate of 256.25, thanks to seven boundaries and as many sixes.

Abhishek ended the opening over with a massive six over the covers against Fazalhaq Farooqi before nailing Azmatullah Omarzai for another six over the long-off stand. Kishan also helped Farooqi’s line to the deep backward square leg for a massive six before the Punjab-born drilled Farooqi for another six on the fifth ball of the fifth over of the chase.

#4 India’s 82/0 vs Afghanistan in 2nd T20I, 2026 (New Delhi)-

Two days later, India bettered their performance with the same number of runs inside the first six overs of the innings against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. They just didn’t lose a wicket in that chase. Sanju Samson nailed a thrilling knock of 57 runs off 22 balls at a strike rate of 259.09, with seven boundaries and four sixes, while Abhishek clubbed 39 runs in 19 balls during their 88-run opening stand off 6.2 overs.

On the last ball of the second over, Abhishek pulled the short ball over the cow corner for a massive six before pulling another short delivery over the mid-on region. Samson also smacked another six against Omarzai over the fine leg fence before clearing the deep mid-wicket fielder for another six off the bowling of Mohammad Nabi.

#3 India’s 86/1 vs Namibia, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (New Delhi)-

It was the group-stage fixture from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 against Namibia for India in New Delhi when the blue brigade bagged a huge score of 209 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 20 overs, based on the strong platform of 86 runs for the loss of one wicket inside the powerplay.

Kishan, while opening the batting for this contest, damaged the Namibia bowling attack with his aggressive knock of 61 runs off 24 balls at a strike rate of 254.17, smashing six boundaries and five sixes. Meanwhile, Samson clubbed 22 runs off just eight balls before being dismissed, thanks to three over boundaries and one four at a strike rate of 275.

#2 India’s 95/1 vs England in 5th T20I, 2026 (Mumbai)-

It was the fifth T20I of the five-match series between India and England that took place at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai when the blue brigade collected a huge score of 247 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 20 overs. That was based on the second-highest powerplay score of 95 runs for the loss of one wicket for India in the shortest format.

Abhishek drilled a record-breaking knock of 135 runs off just 54 balls at a strike rate of 250, thanks to seven boundaries and 13 sixes. The England bowlers, including Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, had no idea how to stop the Indian side, who were in beast mode during that evening.

#1 India’s 100/0 vs Afghanistan in 3rd T20I, 2026 (New Delhi)-

From the same series in 2026 between India and Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, India recorded their highest powerplay score of 100 runs without losing a wicket. Abhishek celebrated the first-ever T20I century among the Test-playing nations in 30 balls and ended up with 108 runs off 34 balls at a strike rate of 317.65, thanks to nine boundaries and 11 sixes.

Samson, meanwhile, drilled a fine knock of 50 runs off 35 balls at a strike rate of 142.86, shouldering two boundaries and four sixes. The base was set for the blue brigade as they ended up with 221 runs on the board for loss of seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs.