The Arun Jaitley Stadium didn’t just cheer; it shook. Abhishek Sharma didn’t wait for the middle overs to find his rhythm—he found it in the first. Thirty balls. That’s all it took to dismantle a record that had stood for nearly nine years. He didn’t just break Rohit Sharma’s mark; he obliterated it. While Rohit needed 35 balls against Sri Lanka in Indore in 2017, Abhishek crossed the line in the ninth over of the Indian innings, hitting a single to complete the feat. It’s the fastest T20I century by any Indian batter, and notably, the quickest by any batter against a Test-playing nation in this era’s data sets.
The damage was done before the bowlers could settle into a rhythm. Abhishek’s scorecard reads like a highlight reel: 10 sixes and nine fours. He didn’t just hit the ball; he threw it. This wasn’t a calculated knock; it was a demolition. For the left-hander, this is his third T20I century, joining a growing list of 12 half-centuries that have made him a permanent fixture in the top order. The contrast is stark. Where Rohit’s 2017 century was a masterclass of timing, Abhishek’s is a display of raw, unfiltered power. He jumped from second to first on the 'fastest by FM teams' list, overtaking Sikandar Raza and Finn Allen, who both needed 33 balls.
Context matters here. India, led by Shreyas Iyer, had already locked up the series with a 2-0 lead before this match even began. Afghanistan, having won the toss and opting to field, walked into a pitch that offered no reprieve. The stakes for the hosts were low, which often breeds freedom. And Abhishek thrived in that freedom. He didn’t have to carry the team; he just had to express himself. And express himself he did, leaving the Afghan bowlers chasing shadows.
So, what’s next? India looks to complete a clean sweep of the three-match series. For Abhishek, the record books are updated, but the question lingers: can he sustain this level of aggression across a full ODI or Test series? The crowd in Delhi got their money’s worth on Thursday, but cricket doesn’t stop at one night. The next match is about three days away, and the spotlight remains firmly on the man who made 30 balls look like a lifetime.