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Ravichandran Ashwin gave Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma perfect 10s after India’s explosive six-wicket win over New Zealand in the third T20I at Wellington on October 27, 2026. India chased 199 in just 13.2 overs, finishing on 199/4 after the hosts had posted 198/3 in their 20 overs.
The ratings, reported by NDTV on October 28, reflected a match dominated by India’s top-order hitting. Abhishek struck 113 from 38 deliveries, while Sooryavanshi made 45 off 19 balls as India raced to 178/2 after 10 overs. The victory gave India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
Sooryavanshi and Abhishek received Ashwin’s highest possible score after setting the chase alight. Sooryavanshi, promoted to open for the match, hit four fours and four sixes before being caught for 45. His innings came at a strike rate of 236.84 and gave India an aggressive start alongside Abhishek.
Abhishek carried the assault deep into the chase, scoring 113 from 38 balls with nine fours and 11 sixes. He was dismissed at 178/2 in the 10th over, but by then India needed only 21 more runs and had the match firmly under control. The innings was his fourth century in T20 internationals, according to NDTV’s report.
Ashwin’s other ratings reflected the different contributions across the side. Sanju Samson received seven after scoring 18 from 13 balls, while captain Shreyas Iyer was given four for his five from 10 deliveries. Tilak Varma was not rated because he did not face a meaningful batting assignment, according to the report.
Among the all-rounders, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Naman Dhir were awarded nine. Reddy took one wicket during New Zealand’s innings, while Dhir finished the chase with four not out from one ball, including the boundary that helped complete the win. Axar Patel received seven after taking the wicket of Glenn Phillips.
Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav both received eight from Ashwin. Arshdeep took one wicket while conceding 33 runs in four overs; Yadav went wicketless and conceded 44. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the only Indian player to receive a rating below four, earning three after returning figures of 0/40 from four overs.
The figures underline the contrast between India’s batting display and the less decisive returns from parts of the bowling unit. New Zealand reached 198/3, with Daryl Mitchell making 89 not out from 52 balls and Bevon Jacobs adding 39 not out from 23. India’s batters then made the target look considerably smaller than it was.
The opening partnership between Sooryavanshi and Abhishek powered India to 118 without loss in the first six overs. NDTV reported that this was the highest powerplay total in men’s T20 internationals, surpassing Romania’s 116/0 against Serbia in 2021. India’s powerplay established a platform that left New Zealand with little room to recover.
India also crossed 100 runs in five overs, a pace NDTV described as the second-fastest by any team in T20 cricket. The team reached its fifty in 2.2 overs, matching the fastest team fifty recorded in the format at that point. These milestones illustrated how quickly the chase shifted from a competitive target to a one-sided pursuit.
Abhishek’s century added another landmark. NDTV reported it was his 11th century in T20 cricket, taking him past Virat Kohli’s 10 and placing him third on the all-time list behind Chris Gayle and Babar Azam. The achievement came alongside his fourth T20I hundred, further strengthening his record in the shortest international format.
The six-wicket win gave India a 3-0 lead in the five-match series, making the outcome unassailable with two matches still to play. The fourth T20I is scheduled for Auckland on October 30, followed by the fifth in Hamilton on November 1, according to the series schedule listed by NDTV and the ICC.
For India, the Wellington match offered both a result and a statement about the batting depth available at the top of the order. Sooryavanshi’s aggressive 45 and Abhishek’s century left the chase in a position where the middle order had little pressure to absorb. Ashwin’s ratings highlighted those two performances, while also identifying areas for improvement among the bowlers.
The ratings remain Ashwin’s assessment rather than an official match award or statistical ranking. The official Player of the Match honour went to Abhishek for his 113, while the team result confirmed India’s dominant position in the series. The next games will show whether India can maintain the same attacking tempo as it looks to complete a clean sweep.
