Punjab opener Abhishek Sharma delivered an electrifying efficiency within the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024, smashing a 28-ball century in opposition to Meghalaya within the closing group-stage match on Thursday. This blistering innings noticed him equal the report for the quickest T20 hundred by an Indian, a mark not too long ago set by Gujarat’s Urvil Patel in the identical event.
Breaking the shackles of type: Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek’s fiery knock was nothing wanting sensational, propelling Punjab to chase down the goal of 143 runs in a mere 9.3 overs with seven wickets to spare. The left-handed batter’s innings featured a jaw-dropping 11 sixes, cementing his place as one of the harmful hitters within the competitors. Earlier than this exceptional show, Abhishek had endured a middling marketing campaign, scoring simply 149 runs throughout six innings with just one fifty to his title. Nevertheless, Thursday’s innings marked a turnaround, because the younger batter unleashed his full potential to script historical past.
Rewriting home cricket historical past: Joint quickest T20 hundred
Abhishek’s ton was his fourth within the SMAT, making him the main century-scorer within the historical past of India’s premier home T20 event, eclipsing Shreyas Iyer‘s report of three tons. His 28-ball milestone now shares the second spot on the all-time world listing, simply behind Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan, who hammered a 27-ball century earlier this yr. Gujarat opener Urvil had set the benchmark for Indian cricket final week, scoring a 28-ball ton in opposition to Tripura. Earlier than 2023, the report for the quickest century within the event was held by Rishabh Pant, who smashed a 32-ball hundred in opposition to Himachal Pradesh in 2018.
Additionally READ: Baroda scripts historical past with record-breaking T20 complete in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024
Surpassing Suryakumar Yadav’s large report
Abhishek’s blitzkrieg didn’t simply finish with a century. By smashing 11 sixes on this knock, he shattered Suryakumar Yadav’s report for essentially the most sixes by an Indian in a calendar yr. Suryakumar had hit 85 sixes in 41 innings in 2022, however Abhishek surpassed him with 86 sixes in simply 38 innings this yr. Suryakumar has additionally on third place with 71 sixes in 33 video games within the yr 2022. This distinctive innings not solely lifted Punjab to a dominant victory but additionally firmly established Abhishek as one of many brightest stars in Indian cricket.
Right here’s how Twitter reacted:
Punjab skipper Abhishek Sharma writes his title in lights! 11 sixes, 7 fours, and a blistering 28-ball ton. Unstoppable! 💪 #SMAT pic.twitter.com/nIsvCQ3L7h
— SunRisers OrangeArmy Official (@srhfansofficial) December 5, 2024
🚨 ABHISHEK SHARMA – JOINT FASTEST HUNDRED BY AN INDIAN IN T20 HISTORY 🚨
– Abhishek smashed Hundred from simply 28 balls in Syed Mushtaq Ali whereas chasing 143 runs. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/K6PbcWPh4V
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 5, 2024
🚨 RECORD ALERT 🚨
FASTEST CENTURY BY AN INDIAN IN T20S.
YES, Urvil Patel HAS COMPANY. 28-BALL CENTURY for ABHISHEK SHARMA 🔥 #SyedMushtaqAliTrophy
— Kaushik Kashyap (@CricKaushik_) December 5, 2024
Most T20 sixes by an Indian in a calendar yr
87* (38 innings) – ABHISHEK SHARMA (2024)
85 (41) – Suryakumar Yadav (2022)
71 (33) – Suryakumar Yadav (2023)
66 (31 ) – Rishabh Pant (2018)
63 (42) – Shreyas Iyer (2019)
60 (32) – Sanju Samson (2024)#SMAT— Lalith Kalidas (@lal__kal) December 5, 2024
Abhishek Sharma now has HIGHEST strike-rate for a T20 century.
365.52 – Abhishek Sharma (Punjab) v Meghalaya, 2024*
351.21 – Sahil Chauhan (Estonia) v Cyprus, 2024
322.85 – Urvil Patel (Gujarat) v Tripura, 2024
309.30 – Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) v Gambia, 2024
305.26 – Rishabh… pic.twitter.com/mR93tALH8e— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) December 5, 2024
Abhishek Sharma smashed a 100 in simply 28 balls???? What he’s consuming.😳
— Bhawana (@cricbhawana) December 5, 2024
Hundred for Abhishek Sharma! 💯👏👏
He smashed 100 in simply 28 balls with 7 fours and 11 sixes for Punjab in opposition to Meghalaya within the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. 🤯🔥🔥
A terrific knock by the Punjab captain, main the staff from entrance. 👌#AbhishekSharma #SMAT #SMAT2024 pic.twitter.com/ksrnqZxn99
— Saabir Zafar (@Saabir_Saabu01) December 5, 2024
Abhishek Sharma scored 100 in simply 28 balls in Syed Mushtaq Ali T20. Insane. pic.twitter.com/JDZhoEHjTw
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) December 5, 2024
Ek quantity 👌 https://t.co/yQbqrx1nX5
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) December 5, 2024
Hey. Hey. Hey. https://t.co/mgHQqtmhLR
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) December 5, 2024
Abhishek Sharma has smashed 100 off simply 28 balls, the joint second-fastest in T20 cricket. Punjab chase down 143 in opposition to Meghalaya in 9.3 overs. Now they look ahead to different outcomes to see if they’ll qualify for the knockouts. #SMAT2024
— Hemant Brar (@HemantBrar_) December 5, 2024
Joint Quickest 💯 in #SMAT ➡️ Abhishek Sharma 100*(28).
Urvil Patel 100*(28)
What an innings.
Abhishek Sharma 106*(29).
4s ➡️ 8
6s ➡️ 11
SR ➡️ 365.52@pcacricket#PUNvMEG #SMAT2024 @SunRisers @IamAbhiSharma4— JaayShaan (VaidhyaJayaShankar) (@JaayShaan) December 5, 2024
🚨 RECORD ALERT 👉 Abhi smashes his technique to the joint quickest T20 💯 by an Indian! 🔥
Simply one other day of #PlayWithFire for Abhi on the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 🤩 pic.twitter.com/J2y4BePzQP
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) December 5, 2024
Urvil Patel did it v Tripura – 28-ball 100. Now, Abhishek Sharma scoring a 28-ball ton v Meghalaya. Poor bowlers from Meghalaya.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) December 5, 2024
Additionally WATCH: CSK’s new recruit Shreyas Gopal baggage a surprising hattrick in opposition to Hardik Pandya’s Baroda in SMAT 2024
