Indian batter's record-breaking march to T20 century

Abhishek Sharma has crashed 100 off just 30 balls as India hammered Afghanistan by 127 runs to complete a sweep of their three-match T20 series .

It was the fastest T20 hundred ever hit in internationals between Test-playing nations, with Sharma overtaking Finn Allen's 33-ball effort for New Zealand against South Africa this year.

In all, the big-hitting 26-year-old scored 108 off 34 balls, amassing 11 sixes and nine fours.

Overall, it was the third-fastest T20 hundred and the fastest by an Indian batter. Rohit Sharma had held the previous record, scoring a century off 35 balls against Sri Lanka in 2017.

Sanju Samson played his part in a destructive partnership, scoring 50 off 35 balls as the Indian openers hit 100 in the powerplay overs — another record. In all, they added 142 off 59 balls as the hosts roared to 7-221 off their 20 overs.

In reply, Afghanistan collapsed to 94 all out in 14.1 overs as spinners Ravi Bishnoi (3-26) and Axar Patel (2-9) shared five wickets.

Put in to bat, India got off the blocks in a hurry as Sharma and Samson hit 50 off only 21 balls.

Sharma got to his 50 off 18 balls, hitting five fours and five sixes, and then sped to the next 50 off only 12 balls. He hit another five sixes and four fours to reach his third T20 century.

Afghanistan were relieved to get the breakthrough in the 10th over when Sharma was caught behind off Rashid Khan.

India didn't capitalise on the remarkable start, Shivam Dube scoring 14 and Ishan Kishan 10. Skipper Shreyas Iyer made 29 off 20 balls as they fell from 1-142 to 4-186.

In reply, Afghanistan collapsed despite opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz opening his account after two matches. He scored 15 off 11 before Patel bowled him.

Patel picked up a second in the same over when Sediqullah Atal was out caught for one. Skipper Ibrahim Zadran top-scored with 25 but Afghanistan could managed only 4-51 in the powerplay.

Wrist-spinner Bishnoi ran through the middle and lower order, while allrounder Nitish Reddy also picked up late wickets to finish with 3-25 in four overs.

It was Afghanistan's heaviest T20 defeat, in terms of runs, against a full member. Previously, they'd lost to India (2022) and South Africa (2024) by 101 runs.