India opener Abhishek Sharma produced a remarkable batting performance against Afghanistan, smashing a century in just 30 balls during the third T20 International in New Delhi.
His explosive innings helped him break Rohit Sharma’s record for the fastest T20I hundred by an Indian batter.
The left-handed opener also became the fastest batter from a Test-playing nation to score a T20I century, marking a memorable moment in international cricket.
Abhishek Sharma Breaks Rohit Sharma’s Record
Abhishek Sharma reached his hundred in only 30 deliveries, surpassing Rohit Sharma’s previous Indian record of 35 balls, which had stood since 2017.
His achievement also moved him ahead of the 33-ball T20I centuries recorded by Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza and New Zealand’s Finn Allen among batters from Full Member nations.
Explosive Batting Against Afghanistan
The Indian opener attacked the Afghanistan bowling attack from the beginning, finding boundaries regularly during the powerplay.
He combined powerful six-hitting with aggressive stroke play to put India in a commanding position.
Abhishek eventually finished with 108 runs from 34 balls, including nine fours and 11 sixes. His extraordinary strike rate reflected the intensity of his innings.
India Opener Delivers Record-Breaking Powerplay
Abhishek’s innings was particularly impressive during the first six overs.
He scored 76 runs from 22 deliveries in the powerplay, setting a new record for the highest individual score during the opening six overs of a men’s T20I.
His rapid start gave India strong momentum in the series-deciding match against Afghanistan.
A Special Moment in T20I Cricket
Although Abhishek’s century was the fastest by a batter from a Test-playing nation, the overall fastest men’s T20I century remains Sahil Chauhan’s 27-ball effort for Estonia, followed by Muhammad Fahad’s 29-ball century for Turkey.
Abhishek’s performance places him among the leading record-breakers in the shortest format of international cricket.
India Secure Series Victory Against Afghanistan
India went on to defeat Afghanistan by 127 runs in the third T20I, completing a 3-0 series sweep.
The team’s strong batting display and effective bowling performance helped secure a convincing win.
Abhishek Sharma’s record-breaking century became the highlight of the match, further demonstrating his ability to deliver explosive performances at the international level.
The achievement adds another significant milestone to his T20I career and provides India with an impressive batting performance to remember from the Afghanistan series.