Abhishek Sharma’s 30-ball blitz breaks Rohit Sharma’s record, smashes fastest T20I century among Test nations

Abhishek Sharma reached his century in just 30 balls against Afghanistan, breaking Rohit Sharma’s record of 35 balls.

Published on: Sep 17, 2026, 20:29:55 IST

Written by Aditya Maheshwari

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Abhishek Sharma tore into Afghanistan’s bowling attack at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday night, smashing the fastest century by an Indian in T20Is. The swashbuckling opener reached his hundred in just 30 balls, breaking Rohit Sharma’s record of 35 balls. His stunning knock also saw him become the fastest centurion from a Test-playing nation in T20Is, surpassing Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza and New Zealand’s Finn Allen, who had reached the mark in 33 balls.

Abhishek Sharma breaks Rohit Sharma’s record with fastest T20I century by an Indian, gets there in 30 balls. (AFP)

The left-hander went after the Afghan bowlers from the very start, racing to his half-century in just 16 balls before taking his assault to another level in the third T20I. He made full use of the powerplay restrictions, hammering 76 runs inside the first six overs as India raced to 100, their highest-ever powerplay score in T20Is. Abhishek showed no signs of slowing down after reaching fifty, taking just 14 more balls to bring up his century. The second fifty was a brutal assault, with the opener finding the boundary repeatedly and leaving Afghanistan’s bowlers with very few answers. His onslaught completely shifted the momentum in India’s favour in front of a packed Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Fastest T20I hundreds

27 - Sahil Chauhan (Estonia) vs Cyprus, Episkopi, 2024

29 - Muhammad Fahad (Turkey) vs Bulgaria, Sofia, 2025

30 - Abhishek Sharma (India) vs Afghanistan, Delhi, 2026

33 - Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (Namibia) vs Nepal, Kirtipur, 2024

33 - Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) vs Gambia, Nairobi (Ruaraka), 2024

33 - Finn Allen (South Africa) vs New Zealand, Kolkata, 2026

Fastest T20I hundreds by Test-playing nations players

30 - Abhishek Sharma (India) vs Afghanistan, Delhi, 2026

33 – Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) vs Gambia, Nairobi (Ruaraka), 2024

33 – Finn Allen (New Zealand) vs South Africa, Kolkata, 2026

35 – David Miller (South Africa) vs Bangladesh, Potchefstroom, 2017

35 – Rohit Sharma (India) vs Sri Lanka, Indore, 2017

India vs Afghanistan Live Updates 3rd T20I

Abhishek did not ease off against either the pacers or Afghanistan’s quality spin attack, taking on Rashid Khan and the other bowlers with the same intent. Every bowler seemed to face the same treatment as the left-hander kept finding gaps and clearing the ropes with ease. Afghanistan struggled to contain him as the packed Arun Jaitley Stadium watched the youngster put on a stunning display of power hitting. Sanju Samson complemented Abhishek well at the other end, picking up boundaries whenever the opportunity came and, more importantly, ensuring the strike kept coming back to his partner. With Samson rotating the strike and Abhishek taking charge, India’s opening pair kept the scoreboard moving at a remarkable rate and left Afghanistan struggling to regain control of the contest.

His sensational knock ended on 108 when he edged a Rashid Khan delivery through to the wicketkeeper. But by the time the opener walked back, he had already done the damage, with India sitting on 142/1 after 9.5 overs and well on course for a massive total.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Maheshwari
Aditya Maheshwari is a Chief Content Producer and sports journalist with over seven years of experience covering the sports beat across formats and platforms. A cricket-first reporter by profession, he also follows football closely and considers it an integral part of his sporting journey. His work is shaped by a strong on-ground understanding of the game and an ability to translate match-day moments into clear, engaging stories that connect with readers across digital audiences. Over the years, he has developed a balanced approach that combines factual accuracy with narrative clarity, ensuring that both breaking developments and deeper insights are presented with context. Aditya has reported from the field at several major tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, the Indian Premier League, and the Indian Super League. First-hand coverage of these events has strengthened his ability to read the pulse of high-pressure contests, whether through live reporting, post-match analysis, or long-form storytelling. Working closely around teams, venues, and evolving storylines has helped him develop a strong sense of timing and editorial judgment. While cricket remains his primary focus, Aditya regularly reports on football and keeps a close watch on other sports such as tennis, hockey, and badminton. His wide-ranging interest allows him to approach stories with broader perspective, understanding how different sporting ecosystems function and evolve. Comfortable in fast-paced digital newsrooms, Aditya is well-versed in modern sports coverage, from live blogs and real-time updates to in-depth analysis and audience-focused storytelling. He believes in keeping sports writing simple, accurate, and grounded, with emphasis on clarity over complexity. At the core of his work lies a commitment to credible reporting and telling stories that go beyond the numbers on the scoreboard, highlighting the people, preparation, and pressure behind every performance.Read More

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