Indian team loses to Pakistan in Hong Kong Sixes match after Crunal Pandya's decisive over

In the T20 match held on October 27 between India and New Zealand in Wellington, the third match of the five-game series, the Indian team secured a convincing victory by 6 wickets. With this win, India gained a 3-0 advantage in the series.

The Indian team completed the game in just 13.2 overs. The main hero of this match was Indian batsman Abhishek Sharma, who delivered an outstanding performance by scoring 113 runs off 38 balls. This prolific innings marked Abhishek's fourth century in international T20 matches.

In his innings, Abhishek hit 11 sixes and 9 fours. New Zealand started first and scored 198/3 in 20 overs. When the Indian team began their chase, their start was exceptionally strong. Abhishek, along with Vaibhav Suryavanshi, formed a record partnership of 133 runs with the first two batsmen.

Abhishek reached the half-century mark in just 15 balls. Vaibhav also played powerfully, scoring 45 runs off 19 balls. Furthermore, India set a world record for the fastest half-century in T20 international matches, reaching 50 runs in only 2.2 overs (14 balls).

During this match, Abhishek Sharma also set a record in T20 international games by hitting eight sixes off the first ball bowled. For his brilliant performance, Abhishek was named 'Player of the Match'.

In men's T20 cricket statistics, Chris Gayle holds the record for the most centuries (22), followed by Babar Azam (13), Abhishek Sharma (11), Quinton de Kock (10), Virat Kohli (10), and David Warner (10).

Records were also noted for the fastest century in T20I, where Abhishek Sharma (India) demonstrated such a pace against Afghanistan in Delhi in 2026. In the match against New Zealand in Wellington in 2026, he also set a record for the fastest half-century in T20I between two teams.

Pakistan secured a convincing victory over the strong English team in the second match of the trinational one-day series, defeating the opponent by a margin of 87 runs. This win marks the second consecutive major victory for the Pakistani team. Previously, the Pakistani team, which had previously beaten Sri Lanka, batted first and scored an impressive total of 302 runs.

After this, Pakistan demonstrated mastery in bowling, limiting the total score of the entire English team to just 215 runs in 38.4 overs.

Following this impressive triumph, the spirits of former Pakistani stars were lifted again. Recently, on a cricket show on a Pakistani television channel, former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar highly praised the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board). Notably, it was this Shoaib Akhtar who had previously criticized the PCB multiple times.

On the show, Akhtar stated that the PCB had decided to move forward with a new mindset. He mentioned meeting many players there, including fast bowlers with speeds of 161.3 km/h. Akhtar advised these young athletes: 'Son, you can break my record, but do not break your body.'

Akhtar also sharply criticized Pakistani players over the last 15 years, stating that they played 'materialistic cricket.' He proudly noted that the PCB has now implemented a policy of 'no nonsense' and 'spirit,' clearly informing players that if they want to play for personal statistics, they should stay home.

Not limiting himself to criticizing his own association, Shoaib Akhtar extended his remarks to world cricket. He stated that for the last 15–20 years, everyone had played selfishly, which led to the current situation. He added that although cricket has existed for 500 years, it is played correctly in only 10–12 countries, unlike football, which involves 200 countries.

The history of confrontations between Indian and Pakistani teams has always been characterized by an atmosphere of high tension and spectacular clashes, including verbal battles between players.

October 20 marks the 48th birthday of Virendra Sehwag, a former opening batsman for the Indian national team. Throughout his 14-year career, Sehwag demonstrated mastery, dealing significant damage to many prominent world cricketers.

Sehwag usually played at his own pace on the field, but when any player tried to throw him off balance, he responded to provocations both verbally and with his bat.

One of the well-known and memorable episodes involves Pakistan's fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar. During one match, Akhtar attempted to disrupt the Indian batsmen with his speed, but Sehwag successfully directed his balls all over the field.

Annoyed by this, Akhtar began bowling constant bouncers at Sehwag, constantly teasing him with the phrase: 'If you can, show me a hook shot.' Sehwag, who was playing openly, singing and whistling, soon realized that Akhtar was provoking him.

Initially, Sehwag responded calmly, asking if he was bowling or begging. However, when Akhtar insisted and challenged him to play a hook shot, Sehwag gave him a harsh reply that is still discussed in cricket circles.

Responding decisively to Akhtar, Sehwag pointed towards the non-striker's end and stated that his father was standing there. He challenged: 'If you dare, ask him, he will play a hook shot.' At that moment, Sachin Tendulkar, the Master Blaster, was at the non-striker's end.

After this, when Sachin came to the crease, Akhtar bowled another bouncer at him, which Sachin brilliantly deflected and sent out of the stadium for a sixteen runs. After this powerful shot, Sehwag approached Shoaib Akhtar and mockingly said: 'Son, son remains a son, and father remains a father.'

Virendra Sehwag's international career was exceptionally successful. Analyzing his Test results, it is clear that he scored 8586 runs in 180 innings played in 104 matches, with an impressive average of 49.34. His best individual score was 319 runs. In Tests, he maintained an aggressive style of play, scoring 23 centuries and 32 half-centuries at a strike rate of 82.23, and hitting 1233 fours and 91 sixes.

In One-Day International (ODI) format, Sehwag also displayed magnificent play. In 245 innings played in 251 ODI matches, he earned 8273 runs with an average of 35.05 and an explosive strike rate of 104.33, including his double century (maximum 219 runs). In ODIs, he scored 15 centuries and 38 half-centuries, and hit 1132 fours and 136 sixes.

Furthermore, in 19 T20 International matches, he scored 394 runs at a strike rate of 145.38.