⚡ HISTORIC MILESTONE AT ARUN JAITLEY STADIUM:
- Record Broken: Fastest T20I century by an Indian (30 balls) — surpassing Rohit Sharma's 35-ball record.
- Global Benchmark: Fastest T20I century ever scored by a batter from an ICC Full Member nation.
- Final Scorecard: 108 runs off 34 balls (9 Fours, 11 Sixes) at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 317.65.
- Powerplay Masterclass: 76 runs off 22 balls — the highest individual score in Men's T20I Powerplay history.
International cricket witnessed an absolute storm as Indian opening batter Abhishek Sharma etched his name into the record books with an unbelievable 30-ball century against Afghanistan in the third T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
In a display of sheer hitting power and fearless intent, the 26-year-old southpaw dismantled the Afghan bowling lineup, bringing up his third T20I century in front of a roaring crowd. By reaching his milestone in just 30 deliveries, Abhishek broke the long-standing record held by former captain Rohit Sharma, who hit a 35-ball century against Sri Lanka in 2017.
Fastest T20I Hundreds by Full Member Batters
With this century, Abhishek Sharma now holds the record for the fastest T20I hundred among Test-playing nations, jumping ahead of global icons:
| Batter | Balls Taken | Opponent | Venue & Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma (IND) | 30 Balls | Afghanistan | New Delhi, 2026 |
| Sikandar Raza (ZIM) | 33 Balls | Gambia | Nairobi, 2024 |
| Finn Allen (NZ) | 33 Balls | South Africa | Kolkata, 2026 |
| David Miller (SA) | 35 Balls | Bangladesh | Potchefstroom, 2017 |
| Rohit Sharma (IND) | 35 Balls | Sri Lanka | Indore, 2017 |
The Boundary Onslaught: Key Highlights & Records
1. Unprecedented Powerplay Mayhem (76 off 22)
Abhishek took complete control right from the opening over. By the end of the six-over Powerplay, he was sitting on 76 runs off just 22 deliveries — registering the highest individual score during a Powerplay in Men’s T20 Internationals.
2. 94.44% Runs in Boundaries
Out of his total score of 108, a unbelievable 102 runs came exclusively from 9 fours and 11 towering sixes. This marks the highest percentage of runs scored in boundaries (94.44%) in any T20I century inning.
3. Equaling Virat Kohli’s T20 Century Tally
This historic performance brought up Abhishek Sharma's 10th overall century in T20 cricket (including domestic and franchise formats), equaling Virat Kohli’s record for the joint-most T20 centuries by an Indian batter.
The Haaland Meditation Celebration Goes Viral
Upon bringing up his single in the 9th over to complete the record 30-ball milestone, Abhishek Sharma sat cross-legged on the pitch and struck the iconic meditation pose popularized by football star Erling Haaland.
"I was in complete flow today. When you see the ball clearly from the first over, you don't overthink. I just wanted to keep my mind calm and strike cleanly." — Abhishek Sharma during the post-innings match interview.
His explosive knock ended at 108 off 34 balls when he was caught behind off Rashid Khan in the 10th over. By then, India had already posted 142/1 on the board, setting the stage for a massive total and cementing one of the most dominant individual displays in T20I history.
Is Abhishek Sharma India’s most explosive T20 opener ever?
Share your reactions and favorite shot from his 30-ball century in the comments below!
