Indian T20I opener
Abhishek Sharma has equalled the record for the fastest century by an Indian in T20 history. The 24-year-old Punjab cricketer achieved this milestone during a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Meghalaya in Rajkot, reaching his ton in just 28 balls while chasing a target of 143.
His blistering innings of 106 runs off just 29 balls resulted in an extraordinary strike rate of 365.52 and included 11 sixes and eight fours.
This explosive performance marked a significant turnaround for Sharma, who had been experiencing a relatively quiet tournament. Prior to this match, he had scored 149 runs in six innings, with only one half-century.
Gujarat’s
Urvil Patel had previously set the record earlier in the same tournament, also scoring a 28-ball century against Tripura in Indore.
Before this year’s tournament, the record was held by
Rishabh Pant, who had taken 32-balls for a century against Himachal Pradesh in 2018.
Meghalaya posted a total of 142 for 7 in their 20 overs. Powered by Sharma's incredible innings, Punjab chased down the target in under 10 overs.
Sharma's aggressive approach is evident in his T20I strike rate of over 171 for India, reflecting the attacking mindset he brings to the national team. He already has a century (against Zimbabwe) and a half-century to his name in international T20s.
Abhishek showcased his power-hitting prowess in IPL 2024, registering the fastest IPL fifty for Sunrisers Hyderabad, reaching the milestone in just 16 balls against Mumbai Indians.
He concluded IPL 2024 with his best season yet, amassing 484 runs at an impressive strike rate of 204.21, further establishing his reputation as a dominant force in T20 cricket.
For IPL 2025, Abhishek joins Sunrisers Hyderabad’s formidable core alongside Heinrich Klaasen,
Pat Cummins, and Travis Head. Retained for ₹14 crore, Sharma’s aggressive batting at the top of the order, combined with his effective left-arm spin, adds crucial versatility to the team.
The young cricketer’s aggressive style and consistent performances suggest a bright future in the shortest format of the game. His recent record-equalling century further cements his position as one of the most exciting young talents in Indian cricket.
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