Abhishek Sharma Records Joint Third Fastest T20I Century For India

Indian captain Shubman Gill chose to bat first after winning the second T20I at Harare. Although the skipper was out for only two runs, opener Abhishek Sharma had a solid 137-run partnership for the second wicket with Ruturaj Gaikwad. 

Abhishek Sharma completed his maiden T20I century in 46 balls  

Opener Sharma, who scored a duck on his T20I debut the previous day, completed his first T20I fifty in 33 balls. Later, the left-handed batter reached the three-figure mark in 46 balls. He completed his hundred with three consecutive sixes. In his 47-ball 100 runs, Sharma hit seven fours and eight sixes.  

Also, Gaikwad remained not out on 77 off 47 balls (11 fours and only six), and Rinku Singh scored 48 not out in 22 balls (two fours and five sixes). India ended their innings at 234/2. 

In reply, Zimbabwe were all out for 134 runs in 18.4 overs. Indian pacers Mukesh Kumar (3/37) and Avesh Khan (3/15) both took three wickets each. Also, the leggie Ravi Bishnoi (2/11) bagged two wickets, and off-spinner Washington Sundar (1/28) picked up a wicket.

Among the Zimbabwe batters, only Wessly Madhevere (43), Brian Bennett (26), Johnathan Campbell (10), and Luke Jongwe (33) reached double-digit figures in that innings. 

Here are some crucial stats about the Indian centurion Abhishek Sharma. (Updated as of 7 July 2024)

• Sharma became the 10th Indian to record a T20I century. Meanwhile, it was the 18th T20I hundred by an Indian batter.
• Sharma became the first Indian cricketer to record a T20I century within his first two T20I innings. Deepak Hooda was the previous fastest Indian to record his first T20I century by recording his maiden T20I hundred in his third innings.
• Sharma scored his maiden T20I hundred at the age of 23 years and 307 days. He became the fourth-youngest Indian to record a T20I century. (Check list 1)
• With his 46-ball century, Sharma recorded India’s joint third-fastest T20I century. (Check list 2)

List 1: Youngest Indian batters with T20I centuries (Top 5)

List 2: Indian batters with the fastest T20I centuries (Top 5)