Abhishek Sharma Smashes Record with 12-Ball Fifty and 32-Ball Century

Punjab captain Abhishek Sharma delivered an explosive performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scoring a remarkable century off just 32 balls against Bengal on November 30, 2025. This match, held at the Gymkhana Ground in Hyderabad, showcased Sharma’s aggressive batting style, as he raced to a half-century in only 12 balls, marking it as the joint third-fastest fifty in men’s T20 cricket history.

From the very first ball, Sharma exhibited his attacking prowess. He hit five fours and five sixes during his rapid ascent to fifty, recording just one dot ball throughout that explosive 12-ball stretch. This feat places him alongside a select group of players, becoming the fifth cricketer to achieve a T20 fifty in 12 balls. Notably, his mentor, former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, was the first to set this benchmark during the 2007 T20 World Cup against England.

The record for the fastest T20 fifty belongs to Dipendra Singh Airee of Nepal, who reached the milestone in just 9 balls during the Hangzhou Asian Games in September 2023. In comparison, India’s Ashutosh Sharma follows closely with an 11-ball fifty, achieved in the same tournament earlier in the season.

Sharma’s aggression did not wane as he continued his assault on the Bengal bowling attack. He reached his century in just 32 balls, hitting 11 sixes and seven fours. Although he narrowly missed the record for the fastest men’s T20 century, currently held by Sahil Chauhan of Estonia, who scored in 27 balls, Sharma’s effort ranks as the third-fastest century by an Indian. Previously, he had shared the record for the second-fastest century with Urvil Patel, who achieved a 28-ball hundred.

Opening the batting alongside Prabhsimran Singh, who contributed a solid 70 runs off 35 balls, Sharma ultimately finished with an impressive 148 runs off just 52 deliveries. Punjab’s innings concluded at an imposing total of 310 for 5 after their 20 overs, marking the second-highest total in the history of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The only higher score remains Baroda’s 349 for 5, which was achieved against Sikkim in December 2024.

This extraordinary display of batting not only highlights Abhishek Sharma’s potential as a key player for Punjab but also amplifies his standing in the competitive landscape of T20 cricket.