Abhishek Sharma rewrote the record books on Thursday, smashing the fastest T20 International century by an Indian and the quickest by a batter from a Test-playing nation during the third and final T20I against Afghanistan.
The 26-year-old left-handed opener raced to his hundred off just 30 balls, eclipsing Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball century against Sri Lanka in Indore in December 2017. He also went past Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, who had struck a 33-ball hundred against Gambia in 2024, to claim the record for the fastest T20I century by a batter representing a Test-playing nation.
Abhishek eventually fell for a blistering 108 off only 34 deliveries, having hammered 11 sixes and nine fours at a strike rate of 317.64. He brought up the landmark with a single in the ninth over as Afghanistan’s bowlers struggled to contain his relentless assault.
Third-fastest T20I hundred
The 30-ball century also placed Abhishek third on the all-time list of fastest hundreds in men’s T20Is. Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan remains at the top after reaching three figures from 27 balls against Cyprus in June 2024, while Turkey’s Muhammad Fahad struck a 29-ball century against Bulgaria in July 2025.
Abhishek’s innings was his third T20I hundred, adding another milestone to a career that already includes 12 half-centuries. His previous fastest century had come against England at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, where he reached three figures from 37 balls on his way to 135 off 54 deliveries. That effort, previously India’s second-fastest T20I hundred, has now slipped to third on the country’s list.
Afghanistan attack blown away
Abhishek began relatively quietly, striking his first boundary off the fourth delivery of the opening over, before exploding into action. He took on Azmatullah Omarzai in the second over with two sixes and a four before launching a brutal attack on Fazalhaq Farooqi, hammering two sixes and two fours from the first four deliveries of the third over.
The opener completed his half-century from just 16 balls in the fifth over and had raced to 76 from 22 deliveries by the end of the powerplay, helping India surge past the 100-run mark.
His extraordinary assault continued until the penultimate delivery of the 10th over, when Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan finally ended the innings with Abhishek edging behind.
The knock further strengthened Abhishek’s reputation as one of international cricket’s most destructive T20 openers. His maiden T20I century came against Zimbabwe during his debut series in 2024, but Thursday’s innings took his power-hitting to another level, simultaneously erasing two major records held by Rohit and Raza.