Abhishek Sharma Smashes 30-Ball Century, Breaks Rohit Sharma's Fastest T20I Hundred Record

Abhishek Sharma hit a century off just 30 balls in the third and final T20I against Afghanistan at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Thursday, September 17.

The knock broke Rohit Sharma's 35-ball century against Sri Lanka in Indore in 2017, the previous fastest hundred by an Indian in the format, according to Hindustan Times and NDTV.

It also made Abhishek the fastest centurion from any Test-playing nation in T20I history, surpassing Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza and New Zealand's Finn Allen, who had each reached three figures in 33 balls, per NDTV's records tally.

How it happened

Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran won the toss and chose to bowl first. Multiple outlets, including India Today and The Times of India, described the decision as backfiring.

Abhishek started cautiously, according to NDTV, hitting his first boundary on the fourth ball of the innings before accelerating. He reached his fifty in 16 balls, tied for the fourth-fastest half-century by an Indian batter, according to ICC Cricket.

From there, he needed just 14 more balls to go from fifty to a hundred, according to Hindustan Times, bringing up the century with a single in the ninth over.

By the time the powerplay ended after six overs, Abhishek was 76 not out off 22 balls, the highest individual score by any batter in the first six overs of a men's T20I, according to Times of India and NDTV. That surpassed the previous mark of 74 not out off 25 balls by Portugal's Kuldeep Gholiya against Malta in 2023. India's team total of 100 in the powerplay was also the highest powerplay score in the country's T20I history, per NDTV and ICC Cricket.

Abhishek eventually fell for 108 off 34 balls, edging Rashid Khan behind to the wicketkeeper in the 10th over, with India at 142 for 1, according to Hindustan Times. His innings included nine fours and 11 sixes at a strike rate of 317.65, per figures cited by The Times of India.

Record after record

The innings put Abhishek at third on the all-time list of fastest T20I centuries. Sahil Chauhan of Estonia holds the outright record at 27 balls against Cyprus in 2024, followed by Turkey's Muhammad Fahad at 29 balls against Bulgaria in 2025, according to both NDTV and Times of India.

It also made Abhishek the first player in T20I history to score two centuries in under 40 balls. His previous fastest, a 37-ball hundred against England at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, came in 2025, according to India Today. Thursday's hundred was his third T20I century overall, to go with 12 half-centuries, per NDTV.

At the crease with him was Sanju Samson, who ICC Cricket noted played watchfully but rotated strike effectively, helping the pair add 100 runs in the powerplay, a team best for India. India made one change to its XI for the match, with Yash Thakur playing his first international game on home soil, according to The Times of India. Afghanistan made two changes.

Context: a series that lived up to its billing

Abhishek came into the finale in form, having scored 82 and 39 in the first two matches of the series, according to ICC Cricket. Teammate Varun Chakravarthy had said after the series opener, "Against our batting line-up, you can't bowl spin." India Today and an additional wire report both cited that comment as having proven prophetic by the time the series wrapped up.

After reaching his hundred, Abhishek sat down on the pitch in a meditation pose, a nod to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland's signature celebration, according to India Today. India head coach Gautam Gambhir was shown smiling on the sidelines, per The Times of India.

The series was branded the "Friendship Cup," though India Today noted the cricket itself was "anything but friendly" for the Afghan bowling attack across all three matches.

What isn't yet clear from Thursday's coverage is the final result of the third T20I itself, or the overall series scoreline. India was 142 for 1 after 9.5 overs when Abhishek was dismissed, still with a full second innings ahead in a 20-over match, leaving the finishing margin as the open question once the chase is completed.