Abhishek Sharma sets record with fastest T20I century from a Test-playing nation

India’s Abhishek Sharma made history during the third T20 international against Afghanistan in Delhi, registering the quickest century by a batter from a Test-playing nation. His explosive innings took just 30 balls to reach three figures.

Sharma smashed 11 sixes and nine fours on his way to 108 runs off 34 deliveries. This performance overtook the previous best of 33 balls, which had been jointly held by New Zealand’s Finn Allen and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza. Allen achieved his milestone against South Africa in the T20 World Cup semi-final in Kolkata earlier this year, while Raza recorded his against Gambia in October 2024.

The record-breaking knock was also the fastest in a T20 international matchup between two Test-playing nations. Sharma’s aggressive batting guided India to a total of 221-7. The century marks his third in T20 internationals, making him the third Indian player to reach the milestone, trailing only Rohit Sharma with five and Suryakumar Yadav with four. Rohit Sharma previously held the national fastest record with a 35-ball century against Sri Lanka in Indore in 2017.

While Sharma holds the record among Test nations, the fastest men’s T20I hundred overall belongs to Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan, who reached the mark in 27 balls against Cyprus in 2024. Muhammad Fahad followed with a 29-ball century for Turkey against Bulgaria a year later.

Sharma has previously demonstrated his power-hitting ability in domestic cricket, having scored a 28-ball hundred for Punjab against Meghalaya in 2024. In the women’s game, the fastest T20I hundred remains a 38-ball effort by West Indies’ Deandra Dottin against South Africa in St Kitts in 2010.