Indian opener Abhishek Sharma delivered a spectacular performance at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday, hammering a 30-ball century against Afghanistan during the third T20 of the series. His aggressive innings set the venue abuzz as he tore through the bowling attack shortly after India, who currently hold an unbeatable 2-0 series lead, were put in to bat first.
Abhishek reached his milestone by smashing a six to reach 99 before completing the century with a single, marking the occasion with a meditative pose. By the time his masterclass concluded, he had amassed 108 runs from 34 balls, featuring 11 sixes and nine fours. His tenure at the crease ended in the tenth over when he was caught behind by Rahmanullah Gurbaz off the bowling of Rashid Khan.
This performance stands as the third-fastest century in men’s T20I history. He eclipsed the 33-ball efforts previously set by Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza against Gambia in 2024 and Finn Allen for New Zealand against South Africa earlier this year. The fastest record remains held by Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan, who reached a hundred in just 27 balls, while Turkey’s Muhammad Fahad accomplished the feat in 29 deliveries.
The foundation of Abhishek’s record-breaking run was laid in the powerplay, where he struck 76 runs off 22 balls—the highest individual score ever in overs 1-6 for a Men’s T20I. After a measured start against Fazalhaq Farooqi, he accelerated by hitting Azmatullah Omarzai for two sixes and a four, followed by an assault on Mohammad Nabi that brought up his half-century in just 16 deliveries.
Beyond the century, Abhishek established a new world record for the most T20I sixes struck during the powerplay within a single calendar year. Data from CricViz confirms his 2026 total has reached 37 maximums, surpassing his previous benchmark of 34 set in 2025.
The atmosphere at the stadium remained electric throughout his innings, with his father, Rajkumar Sharma, watching from the hospitality stand with visible pride. India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, also expressed his approval from the dugout, acknowledging the impact of the opener’s stormy display that essentially ensured a celebration for the home crowd. The report also notes that by then, Abhishek had ensured early Diwali celebrations had arrived for everyone at Kotla. The report also notes that the swashbuckling opener hit a six to 99 and then completed the hundred with a single as he sat in meditation pose to celebrate. The report also notes that he finally fell for 108 off 34 balls to leg-spinner Rashid Khan with the 26-year-old’s knock laced with nine fours and 11 sixes to put India on course to a big total. The report also notes that scoring a scintillating century off just 30 balls, which he celebrated by sitting in a meditation pose, indicating the zen mode he was in while batting, abhishek continued to attack Mujeeb and then Rashid Khan. The report also notes that abhishek’s father, Rajkumar Sharma, seated in the hospitality stand, was a proud man and couldn’t help but smile and clap.
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