Abhishek Sharma smashes second-fastest century for India in T20s

Mumbai: A rampant Abhishek Sharma smashed a 54-ball 135, the second-fastest century and the highest score for an Indian batter in T20Is, powering the hosts to a massive 247/9 in their fifth and final match against England here on Sunday.

Abhishek tore into the English bowling with disdain, producing a knock of the highest quality and replete with compelling strokes against pace and spin alike as he etched his name in record books.

The 24-year-old Abhishek looked set to break Rohit Sharma’s record for the fastest T20I hundred (35 balls) for an Indian batter but eventually achieved it in 37 balls for the second fastest three-figure knock, having already recorded the second quickest fifty off 17 balls for the country.

But Abhishek did break the record for the most sixes by an Indian in a T20I knock when he smacked Brydon Carse (3/38) for his 11th six in the 17th over, eventually finishing with 13 hits over the ropes.

Abhishek’s monumental innings, which contained seven fours, is now also the highest individual score for by an Indian in the format, going past Shubman Gill's 126 not out against New Zealand at Ahmedabad in 2023.

While scoring more than half of the team total, Abhishek also helped India set their highest T20I score against England, bettering their total of 224/2 at Ahmedabad in 2021.

This is also India's fourth-highest innings total in T20Is.

The left-handed Abhishek showed remarkable authority on the off-side to collect most of his runs leaving England searching desperately for answers.

The southpaw danced down the track to hit express pacer Jofra Archer (1/55) while cutting and driving the others at will.

Perhaps, the highlight of his knock was when he lifted a low full toss from Overton over his head for a six to bring up his fifty, which helped India set their highest-ever power play total of 95/1 after six overs.

In fact, Overton’s fifth over of the innings was also the costliest in which Abhishek collected 25 runs while hitting three sixes and a four.

While Sanju Samson (16) and Suryakumar Yadav’s (2) ordinary run persisted, Tilak Varma (24) and Shivam Dube (30) forged robust stands with Abhishek.

Varma played second fiddle in his 115-run stand for the second wicket with Abhishek which came off a mere 43 balls, while Dube took initiative to give the opener a breather as the pair put on a brisk 37 off 18 balls for the fourth wicket.

At the start, getting early into right positions seemed to have helped Samson who smashed Archer for a couple of sixes in the first over, as 14 runs came off it.

But Samson fell again to the short ball trying to pull it for a 6-ball 16, this time off Mark Wood with Archer taking an easy grab at backward square leg.

India captain Suryakumar too was consigned to disappointment as it wasn’t a happy homecoming for the T20I marauder at the Wankhede Stadium.

Going for his trademark whip off the pads, Suryakumar ended up skying the ball high after getting a top edge and England ‘keeper Phil Salt took a sharp diving catch to prolong his lean patch.