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India's young batting sensation Abhishek Sharma delivered another breathtaking performance in the first T20 International against England, rewriting the record books with his fearless stroke play. The left-handed opener became the fastest batter in T20I history to complete 100 sixes, surpassing West Indies star Evin Lewis in the process.
Playing at the Riverside Ground, Abhishek also registered the fastest T20I half-century by an Indian in England, making it a memorable outing despite India's shaky start.
India Lose Two Early Wickets, Abhishek Takes Charge
After winning the toss, India elected to bat first, but the innings got off to a disastrous start.
Opener Sanju Samson managed just one run before being dismissed, while Ishan Kishan returned to the pavilion without scoring. With India under early pressure, Abhishek Sharma showed remarkable composure and counter-attacked from the very beginning.
The left-hander played with complete freedom, punishing both pace and spin as boundaries and sixes flowed effortlessly from his bat.
Abhishek Sharma Creates History With Fastest 100 T20I Sixes
Abhishek reached a historic milestone in the fourth over of India's innings. His second six of the match helped him complete 100 sixes in T20 Internationals in just 785 balls, making him the fastest player ever to achieve the feat.
The previous record belonged to Evin Lewis, who had taken 789 balls to reach the landmark.
This remarkable achievement highlights Abhishek's fearless batting approach and his ability to dominate bowling attacks from the very first ball.
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Fastest Players to Reach 100 T20I Sixes
| Rank | Player | Balls Faced |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abhishek Sharma (India) | 785 |
| 2 | Evin Lewis (West Indies) | 789 |
| 3 | Finn Allen (New Zealand) | 871 |
| 4 | Tim David (Australia) | 931 |
| 5 | Colin Munro (New Zealand) | 963 |
| 6 | Suryakumar Yadav (India) | 1007 |
Fifth Indian to Complete 100 T20I Sixes
With this milestone, Abhishek joined an elite group of Indian batters with 100 or more sixes in T20 Internationals.
Indians with 100+ T20I Sixes
| Player | T20I Sixes |
|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | 205 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 179 |
| Hardik Pandya | 126 |
| Virat Kohli | 124 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 102 |
The achievement further cements Abhishek's reputation as one of India's most destructive T20 batters.
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Fastest T20I Fifty by an Indian in England
Abhishek's aggressive intent didn't stop after the milestone.
The explosive opener raced to his half-century in just 20 balls, setting a new record for the fastest T20I fifty by an Indian on English soil.
The previous record was held by KL Rahul, who reached his fifty in 27 balls against England in Manchester in 2018.
Explosive Knock Ends at 59
Abhishek's entertaining innings came to an end in the ninth over when Sam Curran trapped him LBW.
Before walking back, the southpaw had smashed:
- 59 runs
- 24 balls
- 6 fours
- 4 sixes
- Strike Rate: 245.83
His explosive innings gave India the momentum they needed after losing two wickets inside the opening overs.
Abhishek Sharma's Incredible T20I Record Against England
England has quickly become one of Abhishek Sharma's favorite opponents.
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T20I Stats vs England
- Matches/Innings: 7
- Runs: 347
- Average: 49.57
- Strike Rate: 219.62
- 100s: 1
- 50s: 2
- Fours: 32
- Sixes: 26
These numbers underline his dominance against England and his ability to perform consistently on the biggest stage.
Why Abhishek Sharma's Record Matters
Reaching 100 T20I sixes faster than any other batter in world cricket is a testament to Abhishek's attacking mindset and consistency. Achieving the feat in fewer balls than renowned power-hitters like Evin Lewis, Finn Allen, Tim David, and Suryakumar Yadav highlights his growing stature in international cricket.
With his fearless approach at the top of the order, Abhishek has emerged as one of India's biggest match-winners in the shortest format.
Final Thoughts
Abhishek Sharma's sensational performance against England was about much more than a quick-fire fifty. By becoming the fastest batter in T20I history to smash 100 sixes and recording the fastest T20I half-century by an Indian in England, he delivered one of the finest innings of his international career.
If he continues this rich vein of form, the 25-year-old is well on his way to becoming one of the world's most feared T20 openers, with many more records likely to follow.
Also Read: ENG vs IND 1st T20I Highlights: Rain Washes Out Match After 189/7
