On September 17, 2026, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, the left-handed Indian opener produced one of the most destructive innings in the history of Indian T20 cricket. Abhishek Sharma reached his century in just 30 balls against Afghanistan before eventually finishing with 108 runs from 34 deliveries.
His innings contained 9 fours and 11 sixes, giving him a strike rate of 317.64. More importantly, the knock gave India another dimension at the top of the batting order: the ability to potentially turn the first few overs of a T20 innings into a match-defining advantage.
India Has a New Fastest T20I Century
For almost nine years, Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball century against Sri Lanka in 2017 stood as India’s fastest men’s T20I hundred. Abhishek has now taken that record away from Rohit.
Abhishek’s 30-ball century was also the fastest T20I hundred by a batter representing a Full Member/Test-playing nation. Overall, it was the third-fastest century in men’s T20Is, behind the 27-ball and 29-ball hundreds recorded by associate-nation batters.
Match Record
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Player | Abhishek Sharma |
| Match | India vs Afghanistan, 3rd T20I |
| Date | 17 September 2026 |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi |
| Score | 108 off 34 balls |
| Century | 100 off 30 balls |
| Fours | 9 |
| Sixes | 11 |
| Strike Rate | 317.65 |
| India’s Total | 221/7 |
| Result | India won by 127 runs |
Fastest T20I Centuries by Indian Batters
Abhishek Sharma moved to the top of India’s men’s T20I list after reaching three figures in only 30 deliveries.
| Rank | Batter | Balls | Opposition | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abhishek Sharma | 30 | Afghanistan | 2026 | INDIA RECORD |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | 35 | Sri Lanka | 2017 | Previous India record |
| 3 | Abhishek Sharma | 37 | England | 2025 | India |
| 4 | Sanju Samson | 40 | Bangladesh | 2024 | India |
| 5 | Tilak Varma | 41 | South Africa | 2024 | India |
Record list verified against current published statistical reports. Rankings can change when new T20I centuries are recorded.
Where Does the 30-Ball Century Rank Globally?
Abhishek Sharma’s century is not the fastest men’s T20I hundred overall. It is the third-fastest overall and the fastest by a batter representing an ICC Full Member nation.
| Rank | Batter | Team | Balls | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sahil Chauhan | Estonia | 27 | Cyprus |
| 2 | Muhammad Fahad | Turkey | 29 | Bulgaria |
| 3 | Abhishek Sharma | India | 30 | Afghanistan |
| 4 | Sikandar Raza | Zimbabwe | 33 | Gambia |
| 5 | Finn Allen | New Zealand | 33 | South Africa |
Powerplay Record
Abhishek Sharma scored 76 unbeaten runs during the first six overs against Afghanistan. This is the highest individual score recorded during the powerplay in a men’s T20I, according to the published statistical record following the match.
India also registered its highest-ever T20I powerplay total in the match, driven by the opening partnership of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson.
Why This Record Matters for India
1. A new benchmark for Indian T20 batting
Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball century had stood as India’s fastest men’s T20I hundred since 2017. Abhishek has now lowered that benchmark to 30 balls.
2. Extreme powerplay acceleration
Reaching 76 from 22 balls during the powerplay demonstrates how quickly an opening batter can change the expected scoring pattern of a T20 innings.
3. Left-handed power at the top
As a left-handed opener, Abhishek provides India with a different angle of attack and allows the team to build left-right combinations at the top of the order.
4. Pressure on opposition bowling attacks
An exceptionally fast start can force bowlers to alter their plans earlier than expected, while also allowing India’s middle order to enter with a substantial platform.
Verified Record Summary
| Record | Achievement | Verification |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest Indian T20I century | Abhishek Sharma — 30 balls | BCCI / ICC |
| Fastest Full Member T20I century | Abhishek Sharma — 30 balls | BCCI / ICC |
| Overall fastest T20I century | Sahil Chauhan — 27 balls | Statistical record |
| Second-fastest overall | Muhammad Fahad — 29 balls | Statistical record |
| Highest individual powerplay score | Abhishek Sharma — 76* off 22 | Match statistics |
Data Verification & Authority Sources
BlazeFields recommends checking the following authoritative or established cricket sources when verifying this record.
Last verified: 20 September 2026. Record tables should be updated if a subsequent men’s T20I produces a faster century.
BlazeFields Editorial Note
The 30-ball century should be described specifically as the fastest men’s T20I century by an Indian batter and the fastest men’s T20I century by a Full Member batter. It should not be described as the fastest T20I century overall because Sahil Chauhan and Muhammad Fahad have recorded faster centuries for Associate nations.
This distinction is important when presenting cricket statistics accurately and helps readers understand the difference between national, Full Member and overall T20I records.
Abhishek did not enter the Afghanistan series simply as an established player enjoying uninterrupted form. The 2026 season had included difficult periods, and competition for India’s opening positions had intensified.
But he had already shown signs of returning to his best during this series. He scored 82 in the first match, followed by further runs in the second, before producing the record-breaking century in the third game.
He eventually finished the three-match Afghanistan series with 229 runs at an average of 76.33 and a strike rate of 269.41, including 22 sixes, and was named Player of the Series. That progression makes the 30-ball century even more significant from a cricketing perspective. For India’s batting line-up, his greatest value may ultimately be the pressure he can place on opposition bowling attacks before they have time to settle.
Records are eventually meant to be broken. But some records arrive with a sense that they belong to a different era of the game. Abhishek Sharma’s 30-ball century feels like one of those moments. Indian cricket has never lacked batting talent. What makes Abhishek particularly interesting is the possibility that he represents the next phase of that batting philosophy: not simply scoring quickly, but attempting to take the game away from the opposition before it has properly begun.
More Indian Cricket Records & Milestones
Abhishek Sharma’s record-breaking innings is part of a much bigger story in Indian cricket. Explore related record articles from BlazeFields for more statistics, milestones and historical context.
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Read Rohit’s Records →Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored the fastest T20I century for India?
Abhishek Sharma holds the record for the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter. He reached 100 in just 30 balls against Afghanistan on September 17, 2026, breaking Rohit Sharma’s previous Indian record of 35 balls.
fastest T20I century for IndiaHow many balls did Abhishek Sharma take to score 100?
Abhishek Sharma scored his century in exactly 30 balls. He reached his first 50 from 16 balls and needed only another 14 deliveries to complete the century.
Abhishek Sharma 100 off 30 ballsHow many runs did Abhishek Sharma score against Afghanistan?
He scored 108 runs from 34 balls in the third T20I against Afghanistan. His innings included 9 fours and 11 sixes.
Abhishek Sharma 108 off 34Is Abhishek Sharma’s 30-ball century the fastest T20I century ever?
No. It is the third-fastest men’s T20I century overall. Sahil Chauhan holds the overall record with a 27-ball century for Estonia, while Muhammad Fahad recorded a 29-ball century for Turkey. Abhishek’s 30-ball century is the fastest by an Indian batter and by a Full Member batter.
fastest T20I century overallWhat was Rohit Sharma’s previous fastest T20I century?
Rohit Sharma previously held India’s fastest T20I century record with a 35-ball hundred against Sri Lanka in Indore in December 2017. Abhishek Sharma broke that record by reaching his century five balls faster.
Rohit Sharma 35-ball centuryHow many sixes did Abhishek Sharma hit in his 30-ball century?
He hit 11 sixes and 9 fours during his 108-run innings. His 11 sixes were the second-most by an Indian men’s batter in a T20I innings.
Abhishek Sharma 11 sixesWhat was Abhishek Sharma’s strike rate in his 108-run innings?
Abhishek scored 108 from 34 deliveries at a strike rate of approximately 317.65, making it one of the most explosive individual innings in India’s men’s T20I history.
Abhishek Sharma strike rate 108 off 34What was India’s powerplay score against Afghanistan?
India reached 100 without losing a wicket in the first six overs. It became India’s highest-ever T20I powerplay total, with Abhishek Sharma providing the majority of the early acceleration.
India’s highest T20I powerplay scoreHow many runs did Abhishek Sharma score in the powerplay?
Abhishek Sharma was unbeaten on 76 runs from 22 balls at the end of the powerplay, helping India reach 100/0 after six overs.
Abhishek Sharma 76 off 22 powerplayWhy is Abhishek Sharma’s 30-ball century important for India?
The innings gives India an explosive left-handed option at the top of the T20I batting order. His ability to score rapidly during the powerplay can create a large platform for India’s middle order and put immediate pressure on opposition bowling attacks.
importance of Abhishek Sharma for India T20 battingIs Abhishek Sharma’s century the fastest by a Full Member batter?
Yes. His 30-ball century became the fastest T20I hundred by a batter representing an ICC Full Member nation, surpassing the previous 33-ball marks held by Sikandar Raza and Finn Allen.
fastest T20I century by Full Member batterWhat records did Abhishek Sharma break with his 30-ball century?
Abhishek broke India’s fastest T20I century record, surpassed the previous Full Member benchmark and finished with the third-fastest men’s T20I century overall. His innings also contributed to India’s highest T20I powerplay score.
Abhishek Sharma T20I recordsWhat was Abhishek Sharma’s fastest T20I fifty before this century?
Abhishek Sharma already held India’s second-fastest T20I fifty, reaching the milestone in 14 balls against New Zealand in January 2026.
Abhishek Sharma fastest T20I fiftyHow many T20I centuries has Abhishek Sharma scored?
The Afghanistan innings was Abhishek Sharma’s third T20I century. His previous T20I hundred came against England in 2025.
Abhishek Sharma T20I centuriesWho has scored the fastest T20I century in cricket history?
The overall men’s T20I record is held by Sahil Chauhan of Estonia, who scored a century from 27 balls against Cyprus in 2024. Muhammad Fahad of Turkey follows with a 29-ball century. Abhishek Sharma is third overall with his 30-ball hundred.
fastest T20I century in cricket historyWhen did Abhishek Sharma score his 30-ball T20I century?
Abhishek Sharma scored his record-breaking century on 17 September 2026 against Afghanistan in the third T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
Abhishek Sharma 30-ball century date
