Abhishek Sharma: Smashes Fastest International Century in 30 Balls, Breaks De Villiers Record

Abhishek Sharma has etched his name in the history books of international cricket with a breathtaking performance at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. During the third T20 match against Afghanistan, the left-handed opener unleashed a flurry of boundaries and sixes that left the opposition bowlers searching for answers. Abhishek Sharma completed his century in just 30 balls, making it the fastest hundred in international cricket among full member nations. This extraordinary feat saw him surpass the long-standing record held by South African legend AB de Villiers, who had previously scored a century in 31 balls against the West Indies in an ODI match.

The Record-Breaking Innings

From the moment Abhishek Sharma stepped onto the crease, his intentions were clear. He dominated the powerplay overs, reaching his half-century in a mere 16 balls. During this initial phase, he smashed 5 sixes and 5 fours, providing India with an explosive start. His aggression didn't wane after reaching the fifty-run mark; instead, he became even more dangerous. To reach the century milestone from his fifty, he took only 14 more balls. By the time he reached his hundred in 30 balls, his scorecard featured 10 massive sixes and 9 boundaries. This innings has set a new benchmark for power-hitting in the shortest format of the game.

Surpassing Global Legends

In the context of full member nations of the ICC, Abhishek Sharma is now the sole record holder for the fastest T20I century, achieving it in 30 balls. He moved past Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza and New Zealand's Finn Allen, both of whom had recorded centuries in 33 balls. While the overall record for the fastest T20I century across all levels belongs to Estonia's Sahil Chauhan, who achieved the feat in 27 balls against a non-full member side, Abhishek's achievement against a full member nation like Afghanistan carries immense weight in the international arena.

Dominance in the Powerplay

Abhishek Sharma's performance also established him as the new king of the powerplay. He scored 76 runs during the first six overs against Afghanistan, breaking the previous record for the most runs scored by a batsman in the powerplay of a T20 match. The previous record was held by Kuldeep Golia, who had scored 74 runs in 25 balls while playing against Portugal. Abhishek's ability to exploit the field restrictions has made him one of the most feared openers in contemporary cricket.

Unmatched Strike Rate and Six-Hitting Ability

The statistical brilliance of Abhishek's innings is further highlighted by his strike rate. 64, the highest ever for an Indian centurion in T20Is. 41 in 2017. Also, Abhishek hit a total of 11 sixes during his stay at the crease against Afghanistan. This stands as the second-best performance by an Indian in a single T20I match in terms of sixes. Interestingly, the top spot is also held by Abhishek Sharma himself, having smashed 13 sixes in a match against England earlier in his career.