Abhishek Sharma’s 30-Ball T20I Century: India Star Enters Fastest T20I Century Record Books
Indian cricket witnessed a remarkable batting performance in New Delhi as Abhishek Sharma produced one of the fastest centuries in men’s T20 international cricket. Playing against Afghanistan in the third T20I, the left-handed opener reached his century in just 30 balls, underlining the extraordinary pace at which modern T20 batting can be played.
Abhishek eventually finished with 108 runs from only 34 deliveries. His innings contained nine fours and 11 sixes, meaning that 102 of his runs came through boundaries. His performance helped India post 221/7 in 20 overs before Afghanistan were dismissed for 94, giving India a 127-run victory and a 3-0 series sweep.
The century was significant for several reasons. It became the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter, surpassing the previous Indian record of 35 balls held by Rohit Sharma. At the same time, Abhishek's 30-ball hundred placed him third on the overall list of fastest T20I centuries, behind Estonia's Sahil Chauhan and Turkey's Muhammed Fahad.
Abhishek Sharma’s Explosive 108
Abhishek's innings was built around aggressive stroke-making from the beginning. Rather than waiting for the innings to develop slowly, he attacked Afghanistan's bowling almost immediately.
He completed his half-century in just 16 deliveries. By the end of the powerplay, he had scored 76 from 22 balls, a remarkable contribution during the opening six overs. His aggressive approach gave India an exceptionally fast start.
The opener continued his assault after the powerplay and reached three figures from only 30 deliveries. He ultimately scored 108 from 34 balls before being dismissed by Rashid Khan. His final score included nine boundaries and 11 sixes.
The numbers provide a clear picture of the nature of his innings. Of his 108 runs, 36 came through fours and 66 through sixes. That means 102 runs, or 94.44% of his total, came from boundaries.
A Rapid Start With Sanju Samson
Abhishek was not the only Indian batter to contribute to the team's strong beginning. He opened the innings alongside Sanju Samson, and the pair put together a 142-run opening partnership.
Samson also produced an important contribution, scoring 50. Their partnership allowed India to establish a commanding position early in the innings.
India reached 100 runs during the first six overs, demonstrating just how quickly the opening pair accumulated runs. Although Afghanistan's bowlers managed to slow India's scoring rate later, the damage had already been done.
What Makes the 30-Ball Century Special?
A century in T20 cricket is already a significant achievement because batters have only 120 legal deliveries available to a team. Reaching 100 runs individually requires a combination of attacking ability, timing and sustained scoring pressure.
Doing so in 30 deliveries takes that concept to another level.
Abhishek's century was particularly notable because it became India's fastest men's T20I century. Before this innings, Rohit Sharma held India's record after scoring a 35-ball century against Sri Lanka. Abhishek reduced that mark by five deliveries.
The achievement also placed him among the fastest century-makers in the history of men's T20 internationals.
Sahil Chauhan Still Holds the Overall Record
Although Abhishek created a new Indian record, his 30-ball century was not the fastest ever recorded in men's T20 internationals.
That distinction belongs to Estonia's Sahil Chauhan, who scored a century from 27 balls against Cyprus. Turkey's Muhammed Fahad occupies the next position after reaching his century in 29 deliveries against Bulgaria.
Abhishek's 30-ball century therefore places him third on the overall list cited in the report.
Fastest T20I Centuries Mentioned in the Report
| Player | Balls to Century | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| Sahil Chauhan | 27 | Cyprus |
| Muhammed Fahad | 29 | Bulgaria |
| Abhishek Sharma | 30 | Afghanistan |
| Finn Allen | 33 | South Africa |
| Sikandar Raza | 33 | Gambia |
This comparison also highlights an important distinction in cricket records. A player can set a national record without holding the overall world record. Abhishek's achievement is India's fastest T20I century, while Chauhan's 27-ball effort remains the fastest in the broader list reported by NTV Telugu.
Why Abhishek’s Innings Matters for India
Abhishek Sharma's performance adds another memorable entry to India's growing T20 batting record book.
His innings was not simply about reaching three figures. The speed at which he scored changed the entire shape of India's innings. A 76-run powerplay contribution gave India immediate momentum and put Afghanistan under considerable pressure from the beginning.
His century also demonstrates how influential an attacking opener can be in T20 cricket. When an opener scores at such a rate, the middle order can approach its role differently, while the opposition is forced to defend against an already-established scoring rate.
For India, the performance also came at an important moment in the series. The third T20I ended with a 127-run victory, completing a 3-0 series sweep over Afghanistan.
India’s 221-Run Total and Afghanistan’s Response
Abhishek's explosive innings provided the foundation for India's total of 221/7 in 20 overs.
After the opening partnership between Abhishek and Samson, Afghanistan's bowlers were able to regain some control during the latter stages. India's scoring rate slowed after the first 10 overs, with the team adding 79 runs in the final 10 overs.
However, the early assault had already produced a sizeable total.
Afghanistan required 222 runs to win, but its chase never developed into a serious contest. The team was eventually bowled out for 94 in 14.1 overs.
Axar Patel made an immediate impact by removing Afghanistan's opening batters early. Nitish Kumar Reddy then claimed three wickets, while Ravi Bishnoi took three wickets as India's bowling attack completed the job.
Another Milestone in Abhishek’s T20 Career
The century also took Abhishek's overall T20 century tally to 10, according to the report. That put him level with Virat Kohli for the highest number of T20 centuries among Indian batters in the figures cited.
The milestone is notable because Abhishek has reached this number relatively early in his T20 career. The report states that he completed his 10th T20 century in 205 innings.
His latest international century was his third for India in T20 internationals.
The performance therefore represented more than a single match achievement. It added another milestone to an already rapidly developing T20 record.
The Importance of Power Hitting in T20 Cricket
Modern T20 cricket places enormous value on the ability to score quickly. Batters are expected to make maximum use of field restrictions during the powerplay and maintain pressure on bowlers throughout an innings.
Abhishek's innings was a particularly clear example of this approach.
His 11 sixes and nine fours meant that he needed very few deliveries to accumulate a large proportion of his runs. Rather than relying heavily on singles and twos, he converted scoring opportunities into boundaries.
This style carries both rewards and risks. An attacking batter can dramatically increase a team's scoring rate, but aggressive stroke-making can also lead to dismissal. In Abhishek's case, the approach produced a century before he eventually fell for 108.
What Could This Mean for Abhishek Sharma?
Performances like this can strengthen a player's reputation in the shortest format because they demonstrate the ability to influence a match in a short period.
Abhishek's record-breaking innings gives Indian cricket another high-profile example of an opener capable of producing a rapid start. His ability to combine a quick half-century with a century in the same innings makes the performance particularly memorable.
At the same time, one extraordinary innings does not define an entire career. T20 cricket is highly variable, and maintaining consistency over a longer period is a different challenge from producing one exceptional performance.
For now, however, the 30-ball century stands as a major milestone in Abhishek's international career.
FAQs
Who scored a 30-ball century for India in T20I cricket?
Abhishek Sharma scored a century from 30 balls against Afghanistan in the third T20I in New Delhi.
How many runs did Abhishek Sharma score?
He scored 108 runs from 34 balls, including nine fours and 11 sixes.
Is Abhishek Sharma’s 30-ball century the fastest T20I century ever?
No. According to the cited report, Sahil Chauhan holds the overall record with a 27-ball century, while Muhammed Fahad scored a 29-ball hundred. Abhishek is third with his 30-ball century.
What is Abhishek Sharma’s record in India’s T20I history?
His 30-ball century became the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter, surpassing Rohit Sharma's previous 35-ball record.
How did India perform against Afghanistan?
India scored 221/7 and then dismissed Afghanistan for 94, winning the match by 127 runs. The victory completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep for India.
How many T20 centuries has Abhishek Sharma scored?
The report states that the Afghanistan century took his overall T20 century tally to 10, putting him level with Virat Kohli among Indian batters in the cited figures.
Conclusion
Abhishek Sharma's 30-ball century against Afghanistan will be remembered as one of the most explosive batting performances of India's recent T20I cricket.
His 108 from 34 deliveries, featuring nine fours and 11 sixes, powered India to a massive total and helped set up a 127-run victory. More importantly, the innings established a new Indian record for the fastest T20I century, beating Rohit Sharma's previous mark of 35 balls.
The performance also placed Abhishek third in the overall list of fastest T20I centuries, behind Sahil Chauhan and Muhammed Fahad. While the global record remains outside his reach for now, his 30-ball hundred represents a major milestone for Indian T20 cricket.
With an explosive opening partnership, a record-setting century and a series-clinching victory, the Delhi T20I became a memorable night for Indian cricket—and a defining chapter in Abhishek Sharma's rapidly developing T20 career.