Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes the Indian cricket team has the batting firepower to score 300 or more in a T20I, provided aggressive players such as Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Suryavanshi get going. He highlighted the ability of India’s top-order batters to maintain a strike rate of around 200 throughout their innings, making a record-breaking total a realistic possibility.

India will face New Zealand in the fourth T20I at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, October 30. With the Men in Blue already securing an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, the visitors will look to maintain their winning momentum in another potentially high-scoring encounter. During a discussion on Cricinfo, Aakash Chopra explained that batting first would be crucial if India are to breach the 300-run mark in T20I cricket.

“See, it is a possibility. It is a possibility in every game that India plays, provided they get to bat first. If you’re looking at 300, you need to bat first. So, if Abhishek gets going and Vaibhav also bats the same way, or even Sanju, the fact is that all of them are capable of scoring at 200 strike rates throughout their innings. So, 120 balls can actually produce 300 runs, there is a possibility. But, whenever we tend to expect it, anticipate it, it doesn’t happen. So it’s not happening at all,” Aakash Chopra said.

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India’s highest T20I total remains 297/6, recorded against Bangladesh in Hyderabad in October 2024. Sanju Samson played a remarkable innings of 111 off 47 deliveries, while captain Suryakumar Yadav contributed 75 runs from 35 balls. Their explosive batting helped India come close to the 300-run milestone.

The ongoing India-New Zealand series has also witnessed impressive batting performances, with bowlers finding it difficult to contain the scoring rate. Another run-filled contest could be on the cards at Eden Park, where the short straight boundaries often favour aggressive batters.

Aakash Chopra also pointed out the unusual dimensions of the Auckland venue, explaining why bowlers could face a particularly difficult challenge.

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“The straight boundaries are really short – we’re looking at 45-50 meters. It’s a very odd dimensional ground. Doesn’t look like a cricket ground when you’re there because straight boundaries are really, really short and then you’ve got those deep pockets in the long leg area or the deep mid-wicket area. It’s a very strange kind of rectangular ground. So, bowlers will be signing a mercy petition if there is no help,” he added.

Following the fourth T20I in Auckland, India and New Zealand will conclude the series at Seddon Park in Hamilton on November 1.