New Delhi, September 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India opener Abhishek Sharma produced a breathtaking display of power-hitting against Afghanistan in the third T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday, smashing the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter in just 30 balls.
Abhishek went on to score 108 off 34 deliveries, including nine fours and 11 sixes, before being caught behind by Rahmanullah Gurbaz off Rashid Khan. His innings earned a standing ovation from the crowd.
The 30-ball hundred saw Abhishek surpass Rohit Sharma’s previous Indian record of a 35-ball century against Sri Lanka at Indore in 2017. He also became the fastest T20I centurion from an ICC full-member nation.
Overall, Abhishek’s century ranks among the fastest in men’s T20I cricket. Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan holds the record with a 27-ball hundred, while Turkey’s Muhammad Fahad reached three figures in 29 balls.
Abhishek began with a boundary off Fazalhaq Farooqi but quickly shifted gears, taking on Azmatullah Omarzai with two sixes and a four in the second over.
He then launched an assault on Mohammad Nabi, hitting two sixes and a four to bring up his half-century in only 16 balls.
The left-hander went on to score 76 runs during the six-over powerplay, setting a new record for the highest individual score in the powerplay in men’s T20Is.
Abhishek continued his onslaught against Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan before completing his century off 30 balls. He celebrated the landmark by sitting in a meditation pose, reflecting the composure he displayed amid the extraordinary hitting.
His innings also added another record to his name in the powerplay. According to the source material, Abhishek’s tally of T20I sixes in the six-over phase during 2026 rose to 37, surpassing his previous calendar-year mark of 34 set in 2025.
Abhishek’s father, Rajkumar Sharma, watched the innings from the hospitality stand, while India head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen applauding the explosive knock from the dugout.
The century came after Abhishek had already made a strong impact earlier in the series, scoring 82 off 32 balls in the opening T20I and 39 off 19 in the second match.
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