India opener Abhishek Sharma produced a record-breaking innings in the third and final T20 International against Afghanistan in Delhi, scoring 108 runs off 34 balls. He completed his century in just 30 balls, surpassing Rohit Sharma’s record for the fastest T20 International century by an Indian batter.
Abhishek reached his century in the ninth over, completing it in 30 balls. Rohit Sharma had scored a 35-ball century against Sri Lanka in Indore in 2017. Abhishek surpassed that mark by five balls.
The 30-ball century also became the fastest T20 International century by a batter from a full-member Test-playing nation. Before Abhishek, Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza and New Zealand’s Finn Allen held the record with 33-ball centuries.
Abhishek’s innings was not limited to his century. He also set a new individual scoring record during the powerplay in men’s T20 Internationals.
During the opening six overs, Abhishek scored an unbeaten 76 off just 22 balls. It was the highest individual score by a batter during the powerplay in men’s T20 Internationals. The previous record belonged to Portugal’s Kuldeep Gholiya, who scored 74 runs during the powerplay against Malta in 2023.
India crossed 100 runs during the powerplay while batting first, with Abhishek playing the principal attacking role. He scored across almost every part of the ground, combining boundaries with long sixes.
Abhishek faced 34 balls and scored 108 runs, including nine fours and 11 sixes. He was dismissed in the 10th over by Rashid Khan.
The 11 sixes also put Abhishek among the highest six-hitters by an Indian male batter in a single T20 International innings. During the three-match series against Afghanistan, he also moved past the previous mark for the most T20 International sixes by an Indian batter against Afghanistan.
With this innings, Abhishek took his total number of centuries across all forms of T20 cricket to 10, equalling Virat Kohli’s tally.
Abhishek’s 10 T20 centuries include three in T20 Internationals and the remaining centuries in domestic and franchise T20 cricket.
Kohli has one T20 International century and nine IPL centuries, taking his total to 10. Among Indian batters, KL Rahul, Sanju Samson and Rohit Sharma are stated to have eight T20 centuries each.
The century against Afghanistan was Abhishek’s third in T20 Internationals. He had previously scored a 37-ball century against England in 2025.
By reaching his latest century in 30 balls, Abhishek also surpassed his own previous record. He became the first batter in T20 International history to score two centuries in fewer than 40 balls.
Abhishek maintained his form throughout the three-match series against Afghanistan. Before his 108 in the third match, he scored 82 and 39 in the opening two games.
He finished the series with 229 runs and was the leading run-scorer in the series. India won the three-match T20 International series 3-0.
India scored 221 for seven in 20 overs after batting first in the third match, with Abhishek’s 108 making the largest contribution. India then defeated Afghanistan by 127 runs to complete a 3-0 series clean sweep.
Abhishek’s powerplay batting played a central role in India’s rapid start. He scored 76 from 22 balls in the first six overs and continued attacking after India crossed 100 during the powerplay.
The fielding restrictions during the opening six overs allowed Abhishek to maintain the aggressive approach, and he continued to attack both Afghanistan’s pace bowlers and spinners, including Rashid Khan.
The 34-ball 108 added several records to Abhishek’s T20 career. In the same innings, he broke the individual powerplay scoring record in men’s T20 Internationals, surpassed Rohit Sharma’s record for the fastest T20 International century by an Indian batter and equalled Virat Kohli’s tally of 10 centuries across all T20 cricket.
