Abhishek Smashes Record-Breaking 30-Ball Century in 3rd T20I

NEW DELHI: Indian opener Abhishek Sharma completely rewrote the international cricket record books, smashing the fastest T20I century by a batsman from an ICC Full-Member nation. His breath-taking 30-ball hundred anchored an absolute onslaught in the IND vs AFG 3rd t20 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

The 26-year-old left-hander turned the final match of the bilateral series into a personal masterclass of modern power-hitting. He was eventually dismissed for a staggering 108 runs off just 34 deliveries, leaving the field to a standing ovation after clearing the ropes at will. 

His lethal innings was laced with 9 boundaries and 11 sixes, operating at an astronomical strike rate of 317.65 that dismantled the touring side's bowling attack within the powerplay.

Shattering National and International Records

With this unforgettable Abhishek Sharma century, the dynamic southpaw broke a long-standing national milestone previously held by Indian legend Rohit Sharma. Rohit had set the Indian benchmark with a 35-ball century against Sri Lanka in Indore back in 2017. 

Top 3 Fastest Centuries by ICC Full-Member Nations in Men's T20Is

On a broader global scale, this Abhishek Sharma century in 3rd T20 also eclipsed Zimbabwe’s Sikander Raza and New Zealand's Finn Allen, who previously shared the record for the fastest century among elite, Test-playing nations with respective 33-ball hundreds. 

Here are the top 3 fastest centuries scored by players from elite Test-playing nations:

Rank	Batter	Balls Faced	Opposition	Match Date
1	Abhishek Sharma (India)	30	vs. Afghanistan	September 17, 2026
2	Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe)	33	vs. Gambia	October 23, 2024
3	Finn Allen (New Zealand)	33	vs. South Africa	March 4, 2026

Top 3 Fastest Centuries in Men's T20I History

While the absolute global record across all tiers remains with Estonia's Sahil Chauhan (27 balls), Abhishek now stands as the absolute fastest in the history of mainstream tier-one international cricket. Furthermore, his final strike rate of 317.65 registers as the highest-ever tempo for a completed T20I century by an Indian batsman.

Here is the absolute global leaderboard for the fastest centuries in men's T20 International cricket.

Rank	Batter	Balls Faced	Opposition	Match Date
1	Sahil Chauhan (Estonia)	27	vs. Cyprus	June 17, 2024
2	Muhammad Fahad (Turkey)	29	vs. Bulgaria	July 12, 2025
3	Abhishek Sharma (India)	30	vs. Afghanistan	Sept 17, 2026

Powerplay Domination in 3rd T20

After Afghanistan skipper Ibrahim Zadran won the toss and elected to field, the opening duo of Sharma and Sanju Samson capitalized on prime batting conditions. The pair launched a relentless, coordinated counter-attack, propelling India past the 100-run milestone inside the first six overs of the powerplay.

Even world-class spin execution from Afghan captain Rashid Khan offered no immediate relief, as Sharma routinely used his feet to clear the boundary ropes with remarkable spatial timing. Khan eventually exacted a small measure of revenge by picking up Sharma's wicket in the tenth over, but the structural damage to the touring side’s morale had already been definitively rendered.

A Defining Blueprint for India's Future

This historic milestone caps off an incredibly productive assignment for the young opener, who has asserted absolute dominance across this three-match bilateral series. Having already anchored the series opener on Sunday with a decisive 32-ball 82, followed by a brisk 39 in the second match, his total run tally firmly cements his stature as an elite, indispensable force at the top of India’s modern white-ball transition blueprint.

With India holding an unassailable lead in the series, Sharma’s record-breaking batting masterclass ensures the hosts remain overwhelmingly positioned to finalize a clean sweep.