Abhishek Sharma smashed a breathtaking 108 off just 34 balls at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, on 17 September 2026, powering India to a 127-run victory over Afghanistan and a 3-0 T20I series sweep — prompting India captain Shreyas Iyer to describe the knock as outright 'flawless' on a pitch that was far from straightforward.

The century, laced with nine fours and 11 sixes, earned Sharma a standing ovation from the packed stadium before he was caught behind by Rahmanullah Gurbaz off Rashid Khan in the tenth over.

A Record-Breaking Innings

Abhishek's 34-ball hundred eclipsed former India captain Rohit Sharma's previous record of a 35-ball century against Sri Lanka at Holkar Stadium, Indore, in 2017, making it the fastest T20I hundred by an Indian men's batter. It is also the quickest century by a batter from a Test-playing nation in the shortest format.

In the all-time T20I rankings, the knock stands as the third-fastest century in men's T20I history, behind only Estonia's Sahil Chauhan (27 balls) and Turkey's Muhammad Fahad (29 balls) — a remarkable feat that underscores the explosive potential of the young opener.

Iyer Hails the Innings

'It wasn't an easy wicket, but the way Abhishek played today was flawless, and it was just pleasing to the eye,' Iyer said at the post-match presentation ceremony, while also acknowledging Afghanistan's commendable effort as touring visitors. He stopped short of calling India's dominance 'bullying', choosing instead to credit the opposition for their competitive spirit across the series.

Iyer also revealed he had anticipated the batting call well before the toss. 'Honestly speaking, I knew that I was going to bat today because we had a brief conversation with Ibrahim. He wanted to bowl in the first two games as well,' he said, referring to Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran. He added that getting 220 on the board after the blazing start was equally commendable.

Axar Patel's Decisive Contribution

While Abhishek's bat did the early damage, experienced all-rounder Axar Patel proved equally decisive with the ball, returning figures of 2 for 9 in 3 overs to help restrict Afghanistan's chase. Iyer was effusive in his praise: 'He knows when the critical situation arrives, and he's the man to deliver in that position. He's been performing consistently throughout.'

Notably, this is India's second consecutive 3-0 T20I series sweep under Iyer's leadership, reinforcing his side's dominance in the format at home.

What's Next

The emphatic series result is likely to fuel selection conversations ahead of India's upcoming T20I assignments, with Abhishek Sharma now firmly staking a claim as the side's go-to powerplay enforcer. All eyes will be on whether he can replicate this form in more contested conditions.