Abhishek Sharma’s Historic 28-Ball Century

In a landmark performance during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Abhishek Sharma delivered a record-breaking feat by scoring a 28-ball century for Punjab against Meghalaya in Rajkot. This blistering innings, not only placed him into the annals of T20 cricket history but also highlighted his sheer power-hitting ability in a format defined by its fast-paced nature.

Abhishek’s century matched the joint second-fastest T20 century record held by India’s Urvil Patel, while falling just short of the fastest T20 century record held by Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan, who smashed a 27-ball century against Cyprus.

Achieving an unbeaten 106 from 29 balls, Abhishek maintained a staggering strike rate of 365.52. His onslaught included 11 towering sixes and 8 boundaries, allowing Punjab to chase down a target of 143 runs in merely 9.3 overs. This remarkable win not only boosted Punjab’s chances for progressing to the knockout stages but also enhanced their net run rate.

In addition to his recent exploits, Abhishek’s tally for 2024 has reached an impressive 87 sixes across 38 innings. This achievement surpasses Suryakumar Yadav’s previous Indian record of 85 sixes in a calendar year set in 2022.

Abhishek Sharma’s consistent performances have been recognized by the Sunrisers Hyderabad, who have retained him for ₹14 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 season. His fourth century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy also establishes him as the leading century scorer in the tournament’s history. Analysts have described Sharma as a rare talent capable of dominating bowlers straight from the start.

In conclusion, Abhishek Sharma’s 28-ball century is a testament to his skill and dominance in T20 cricket. His ability to perform under pressure and consistently hit sixes places him among cricket’s elite power hitters, marking him as a player to watch in future tournaments and leagues.