Image caption, Abhishek's century was the third-fastest in all T20 internationals and the joint fifth-fastest in all T20s ByMatthew HenryBBC Sport journalist Published 10 minutes ago Third T20, Delhi India 221-7 (20 overs): Abhishek 108 (34), Samson 50 (35); Omarzai 2-27 Afghanistan: Yet to bat Scorecard Abhishek Sharma hit a 30-ball century - the fastest in a T20 international between two full-member nations - in India's third T20 against Afghanistan in Delhi.
Opener Abhishek, who was knocked off the top of the T20 batting rankings in July, continued to make 108 from 34 balls, hitting nine fours and 11 sixes in India's 221-7.
The 26-year-old reached three figures in the ninth over - at that stage India were 132-0 - having scored a remarkable 96 of his 100 runs in boundaries.
The only exceptions were the single to get to his hundred, another in the previous over and a two in the third.
It was Abhishek's third T20 international ton and the 10th of his entire T20 career.
And while it beat the previous fastest century for a full-member nation - a 33-ball effort by New Zealand's Finn Allen against South Africa at this year's T20 World Cup - it was not even Abhishek's quickest in the format.
The thrilling left-hander hit a 28-ball ton for Punjab against Meghalaya in Indian domestic cricket in 2024.
Against Afghanistan, he dominated Afghanistan's pace bowlers with his pull shot and powered the spinners down the ground.
He helped India take 100 from the powerplay but, after he was caught behind off the bowling of Rashid Khan, the hosts added 79 in the remaining 10.1 overs.
