Shubhankar Sharma is the leader at the halfway stage ©Getty Images

India's Shubhankar Sharma shot a five-under-par round to take a two shot lead at the halfway stage of the World Golf Championships in Mexico City.

The 21-year-old debutant produced a brilliant display to move to the summit of the standings at the Club de Golf Chapultepec.

Sharma, the youngest player in the 64-strong field, occupies top spot on 11-under-par after carding a round of 66. 

He holds the advantage ahead of American Xander Schauffele and Spain's Rafa Cabrera Bello and Sergio Garcia, who are tied for second on nine-under in a tournament that is one of the four annual World Golf Championships organised by the International Federation of PGA Tours.

Dustin Johnson of the United States, the world number one and defending champion, is four shots adrift of Sharma, as is South African Louis Oosthuizen, the leader after the first round.

Debutant Shubhankar Sharma of India shot a five-under round of 66 to move to the top of the leaderboard at the World Golf Championships at the Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City ©Getty Images
Debutant Shubhankar Sharma of India shot a five-under round of 66 to move to the top of the leaderboard at the World Golf Championships at the Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City ©Getty Images

American Jordan Spieth, the three-time major winner, is two further back on five-under.

Sharma was solid on the front nine and recorded five birdies on the back nine.

"To be honest, I'm actually relaxed," Sharma said. 

"This is such a big event, I would say this is taking some pressure off me, playing well on this course. 

"And I proved to myself that I can roll it, so I'll just do the same things that I've been doing.

"You have to expect great things from yourself if you want to play at a high stage."