On September 17, 2026, Abhishek Sharma made a century off just 30 balls against Afghanistan in the third T20I at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, setting a new record for the fastest T20I century ever scored by a batsman from an ICC Full Member nation.
He went on to score 108 from 34 balls, including 9 fours and 11 sixes. Abhishek scored his half-century in 16 balls and needed only 14 more deliveries to reach three figures before being removed in the tenth over with India at 142 for 1. Sanju Samson, the opening batsman, contributed 34 from 25 balls at the other end.
The previous Full Member record of 33 balls was shared by Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, who established it against Gambia on October 23, 2024, and New Zealand’s Finn Allen, who tied it against South Africa on March 4, 2026. Abhishek’s effort is three balls quicker than the shared standard.
How does Abhishek’s century compare to other T20I records?
In the broader T20I list, which includes Associate nations, Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan holds the record for the fastest century in 27 balls, which he scored against Cyprus in 2024. Muhammad Fahad of Turkey scored a 29-ball hundred against Bulgaria in Sofia in 2025, putting him second on the all-format list. Abhishek’s 30-ball effort ranks third overall but is unique among Full Member batters.
Abhishek Sharma also broke the Indian national record in the process. Rohit Sharma had held the record with a 35-ball century against Sri Lanka in Indore on December 22, 2017. The new record is five balls faster than Rohit’s time.
The incredible pace of the innings is further emphasized by the numbers: Abhishek Sharma hammered one six every 3.09 balls throughout his 34-ball stay, contributing well over 76% of India’s total of 142 for 1 at the time of dismissal. This is one of the most damaging T20I innings ever recorded, thanks to its boundary frequency and general dominance over a Full Member attack.
Where does this century fit into Abhishek Sharma’s T20I career?
This was Abhishek Sharma third T20I century, putting him in elite company among Indian cricketers. Only Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav have scored more centuries for India in T20Is, with five and four, respectively. Reaching three T20I hundreds at Abhishek Sharma speed demonstrates how quickly he has established himself as a match winner at the top of the order.
From a broader viewpoint, the knock demonstrates the growth of T20I batting standards at the top level. Abhishek’s ability to accelerate from a 16-ball fifty to a 30-ball hundred while maintaining that rate against international-quality bowling sets a new standard for what India’s top order can achieve in the powerplay.
