In a historic performance during the fifth and final T20I match against England at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, the Indian cricket team set a new record for the highest-ever powerplay score in the format. Abhishek Sharma played a pivotal role, guiding India to a remarkable 95/1 in the first six overs.
His aggressive hitting was on full display as he brought up his fifty in just 17 balls, finishing the powerplay with 58 runs off 21 balls. Tilak Varma contributed 19 off 8 balls, while Sanju Samson, dismissed during the powerplay, scored 16 off 7 balls.
Abhishek Sharma’s Record-Breaking Century in T20I
Abhishek Sharma put on an incredible performance during the fifth and final T20I match against England at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. He completely dominated the game, hitting the ball all around the field and leaving England’s bowlers in shock. After England’s captain, Jos Buttler, chose to bowl first, Abhishek Sharma made the most of the powerplay overs, giving India a strong and quick start.
He reached his century in just 37 balls, which was an extraordinary achievement. His aggressive batting not only helped India get off to a flying start but also set a new record for the second-fastest T20I century by an Indian player.
The record for the fastest century still belongs to Rohit Sharma, who scored a century in just 35 balls against Sri Lanka in 2017 in Indore. Before Abhishek Sharma’s remarkable knock, the second-fastest T20I century was held by Sanju Samson, who made 100 runs in 40 balls against Bangladesh in Hyderabad.
Abhishek’s innings was a game-changer, and it will be remembered as one of the most explosive performances in Indian cricket’s T20 history. His ability to score quickly and put pressure on the opposition was key to India’s strong performance in that match.
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India’s Highest T20I Powerplay Scores
- 95/1 vs England, Mumbai (2025)
- 82/2 vs Scotland, Dubai (2021)
- 82/1 vs Bangladesh, Hyderabad (2024)
- 78/2 vs South Africa, Johannesburg (2018)
India set a new record for their fastest T20I century, reaching 100 runs in just 6.3 overs, surpassing their previous record of 7.1 overs against Bangladesh in 2024. Abhishek’s brilliant innings played a key role, as he scored his own century in only 37 balls.
England Captains’ Remarks Before the Match
Before the match, England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and chose to bowl. England made one change, bringing in Mark Wood for Saqib Mahmood. India made one change as well, with Mohammed Shami replacing Arshdeep Singh. With India leading the series 3-1, the final T20I was already a dead rubber.
Buttler commented, “We had some good moments but needed better execution. Both teams are explosive with the bat, and Mark Wood returns to the lineup.”
India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed his desire to bat first, praising the pitch and hoping for minimal dew. He emphasized the importance of the team taking responsibility, noting that sometimes failure is a part of playing a high-risk game. Shami was included in place of Arshdeep Singh.
Also Read: ICC Test Team of the Year 2024
FAQs
Q.1. What is India’s highest-ever T20I powerplay score?
Ans. India set their highest-ever T20I powerplay score of 95/1 against England in Mumbai, 2025.
Q.2. Who holds the record for the fastest T20I century by an Indian?
Ans. Rohit Sharma holds the record with a 35-ball century against Sri Lanka in 2017.
Q.3. How many balls did Abhishek Sharma take to reach his century?
Ans. Abhishek Sharma scored a century in just 37 balls, making it the second-fastest T20I century by an Indian.
Q.4. What changes did England and India make for the final T20I?
Ans. England replaced Saqib Mahmood with Mark Wood, while India brought in Mohammed Shami for Arshdeep Singh.
Q.5. What did the captains say before the match?
Ans. England’s Jos Buttler highlighted the need for better execution, while India’s Suryakumar Yadav praised the pitch and emphasized team responsibility.
