Left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma smashed a stunning 30-ball century against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi on 18 September 2026, eclipsing Rohit Sharma's record for the fastest T20I hundred by an Indian batter and calling the feat one of his biggest achievements. The explosive knock powered India to 221/7 and a 127-run series-clinching victory that sealed a 3-0 whitewash.

The Record-Breaking Knock

Abhishek tore into the Afghanistan bowling attack, finishing with 108 off 34 balls, laced with 9 boundaries and 11 sixes. His 30-ball century — his third hundred in T20 international cricket — is now the fastest by any batter from a Test-playing nation, surpassing the previous benchmark of 33 balls jointly held by Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza and New Zealand's Finn Allen. The fastest overall T20 century on record remains Sahil Chauhan's 27-ball effort for Estonia. Abhishek reached the milestone with a quick single before dropping into a brief meditation pose on the pitch — a moment that quickly captured attention beyond the boundary.

He was eventually dismissed by leg-spinner Rashid Khan, but only after the damage was well and truly done.

What Abhishek Said About the Achievement

'It's a big achievement, not for just me, for all the Indians I could probably say, because I still remember the way Rohit bhaji used to play T20 cricket, I really loved and enjoyed when I was watching back at home and breaking that record, it's one of my biggest achievements for now,' Abhishek said in a video posted on bcci.tv.

He also acknowledged minor setbacks in the recent past — defeats in Ireland and England — but insisted they did not define the team's aggressive blueprint. 'I said on the first day as well when I got the Man of the Match award, we dominated the whole two years before the World Cup and probably just after the World Cup, 1-2 series can't define our batting department and the way we want to play,' he added.

Gambhir's Role and the 'Soormas' Huddle

Head coach Gautam Gambhir and T20I captain Shreyas Iyer received special mention from Abhishek for creating an environment of fearlessness. 'Big mention to coach and captain because once they are on your side, I feel it gives you more freedom and confidence,' he said.

In a particularly vivid detail, Gambhir asked Abhishek to address the team in the pre-match huddle — and Abhishek chose to do so in Punjabi. 'I asked him if I can speak in Punjabi, because I feel when a Punjabi speaks in Punjabi, it actually motivates the whole team. I called the team Soormas, that means warriors,' he explained. His rallying call closed with a line he attributed to former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu — 'Chak de phatte, nap de killi, subah Jalandhar, shaam nu Dilli' — drawing laughter and loosening the atmosphere before the game.

Meditation, Manifestation and Mental Clarity

Abhishek also shed light on his off-field routines, crediting six to seven months of meditation and visualisation practice for the mental sharpness he displayed. 'From the last six months or probably one year, I've been doing a bit of manifestation, a bit of meditation and it's actually helping me a lot,' he said. The celebration pose on the pitch was his way of conveying that message to a broader audience, particularly young cricketers. 'Whoever youngsters want to learn something new, I feel this is something which I've discovered from last six months, seven months and it actually helped me a lot,' he added.

With three T20I centuries now to his name and a record that once belonged to one of India's greatest limited-overs batters, Abhishek's rise as a top-order powerhouse looks set to define India's white-ball blueprint for years to come.