In a dazzling display of power hitting, India’s rising star Abhishek Sharma etched his name into the record books by registering the quickest T20 International century ever recorded by a batsman from a Test‑playing nation. The feat was achieved during India’s home encounter with Afghanistan in Delhi, where Sharma smashed a blistering 108 runs off just 34 balls, a knock that featured an astonishing 11 sixes and nine fours.
This explosive innings not only propelled India to a formidable total of 221 for 7 but also eclipsed the previous best of 33 balls set by New Zealand’s Finn Allen and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza. Allen’s rapid hundred came in the high‑stakes semi‑final of the T20 World Cup against South Africa in Kolkata earlier this year, while Raza’s record was established against Gambia in Nairobi in October 2024.
By surpassing both, Sharma’s 30‑ball century now stands as the swiftest hundred in a T20 International contested between two full‑member Test nations. It is worth noting that the overall fastest men’s T20I century belongs to Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan, who reached the milestone in just 27 balls against Cyprus in 2024.
A year later, Turkey’s Muhammad Fahad posted a 29‑ball hundred versus Bulgaria, placing Sharma third on the all‑time list for men’s T20Is. In the women’s game, the quickest century was recorded by West Indies’ Deandra Dottin, who struck a 38‑ball hundred against South Africa during the 2010 World Cup in St. Kitts.
Sharma’s landmark performance came as part of a dominant series win for India. After his thunderous knock, the Indian side posted 221‑7, a score that proved too much for Afghanistan, who were bowled out for a meagre 94, handing India a comprehensive 127‑run victory and a 3‑0 series whitewash. The win further cemented India’s supremacy in the bilateral contest and highlighted Sharma’s growing importance in the side’s limited‑overs setup.
With this innings, Sharma now boasts three T20I centuries, placing him third on the Indian leaderboard for international hundreds, behind only Rohit Sharma, who has five, and Suryakumar Yadav, who has four. Rohit Sharma himself held the previous Indian record for the fastest T20I ton, achieving a 35‑ball hundred against Sri Lanka in Indore back in 2017. Sharma’s ability to score at such a rapid pace underscores a shift in the modern game, where aggressive intent and innovative shot‑making have become essential tools for success.
Beyond the international arena, Sharma has already demonstrated his capacity for quick scoring in domestic cricket. Earlier in 2024, he registered a 28‑ball century for Punjab against Meghalaya, showcasing his consistency across formats and levels of competition. His fielding contributions were also on display in the same match against Afghanistan, where he took a crucial catch at deep mid‑wicket to dismiss Sediq Atal, further highlighting his all‑round impact on the game.
The match also featured a notable spell from India’s spin bowler Nitish Kumar Reddy, who claimed three wickets in the 12th over, effectively dismantling the Afghan batting line‑up and ensuring the innings concluded in just 14.1 overs. This combination of explosive batting, sharp fielding, and incisive bowling epitomised India’s comprehensive performance throughout the series. Sharma’s record‑breaking century is more than just a statistical milestone; it reflects the evolving nature of T20 cricket, where younger players are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible with bat and ball.
His ability to dominate bowlers with a mix of power, timing, and strategic placement of shots demonstrates a maturity that belies his age. As the game continues to grow in popularity worldwide, performances like Sharma’s serve to inspire the next generation of cricketers, showing that with dedication and skill, the highest echelons of the sport are within reach. Looking ahead, Sharma’s achievement will likely cement his place in India’s T20 line‑up for the foreseeable future, and he will be a key figure in upcoming international tournaments and bilateral series.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see whether he can replicate or even surpass this explosive display, potentially challenging the long‑standing records held by the likes of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav. In any case, his 30‑ball hundred will remain a landmark moment in the annals of Indian cricket, symbolising both personal triumph and the broader evolution of the T20 format.