Shivam Dube smashes 3rd fastest fifty for IND in T20Is [Source: @BCCI/X]In a remarkable achievement, Shivam Dube smashed a 15-ball half-century, registering the third-fastest fifty for India in T20Is. Renowned for his power-hitting, Dube blazed his way through to a belligerent half-century, thereby joining Abhishek Sharma and Yuvraj Singh on the list of Indian batters with the fastest fifties in T20Is. Chasing a mammoth total of 216 runs, India had the worst possible start to their innings, losing Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav cheaply. While Sanju Samson and Rinku Singh failed to convert their starts into significant scores, Shivam Dube emerged as India's wrecker-in-chief in the dead-rubber, bringing up a power-packed fifty. Fastest fifties for India in T20Is: Shivam Dube joins elite listComing at number six, Dube made the most of the batting-friendly conditions in Visakhapatnam. He dispatched the New Zealand bowlers to all parts of the ground, bringing up a 15-ball fifty with a flurry of boundaries. Thus, he claimed the third position on the list of Indian batters with the fastest T20I fifties, topped by Yuvraj Singh and Abhishek Sharma, who attained the landmark in 12 and 14 balls, respectively. 12 balls – Yuvraj Singh vs England, Durban, 200714 balls – Abhishek Sharma vs New Zealand, Guwahati, 202615 balls – Shivam Dube vs New Zealand, Vizag, 2026*Interestingly, Abhishek Sharma registered the second-fastest T20I fifty for India when he slammed a 14-ball half-century in Guwahati earlier in the series. Shivam Dube missed his record by a whisker, taking one ball more than the opening batter to bring up the record. However, soon after completing his fifty, Dube was dismissed courtesy of a miscommunication with Harshit Rana. Before ace New Zealand speedster Matt Henry ran him out, the southpaw thoroughly entertained the spectators, hitting three boundaries and seven sixes for his 23-ball 65. He was one of India's rare shining lights in an otherwise forgettable game against the Kiwis in the series.Shivam Dube highlights Indian batting depth in Vizag dead-rubberIt's worth noting that India's in-form batter Ishan Kishan was ruled out of the fourth T20I against New Zealand due to a niggle. The hosts decided to replace Ishan with Arshdeep, thereby reducing their batting resources for this game. So, when Abhishek and Suryakumar Yadav lost their wickets in quick succession and the middle-order fell prey to New Zealand's disciplined bowling unit, the Indian fans hadn't expected the hosts to breach the 150-run mark. However, Shivam Dube stepped up to the occasion and ensured a respectable score for the home team. His batting form not only signified his self-belief but also highlighted India's batting depth ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. Seifert, Santner headline New Zealand's dominanceEarlier, New Zealand cruised to a gigantic total of 215 runs, thanks to a ruthless fifty from dynamic keeper-batter Tim Seifert. The swashbuckling right-hander contributed 62 runs to the BlackCaps' tally, while Daryl Mitchell smashed 39 runs off 18 balls, ensuring a fitting finish for the team. On the bowling front, captain Mitchell Santner bagged three crucial wickets, as New Zealand registered their first victory of the five-match T20I series, defeating India by 50 runs.
