NEW DELHI: Top-ranked T20I batter Abhishek Sharma bounced back in style after a poor outing in the first two games of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, as the Punjab captain went hammer and tongs against the Bengal bowlers to notch up a 32-ball century in the Group C match in Hyderabad on Sunday. He hammered 7 fours and 11 sixes to reach his hundred at a staggering strike rate of more than 300.

Punjab had high hopes from Abhishek, who is also leading them in the premier domestic T20 competition despite his low scores (4 and 6 runs) in the first two matches, and he didn't disappoint on Sunday. Against the likes of Mohammed Shami, who shared a dressing room with him for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025, Abhishek batted with intent to silence his critics.

Fourth fastest hundred by Indian in T20s

Abhishek's century saw him join an elite group, tying with Rishabh Pant and 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi for the fourth fastest hundred by an Indian batter in T20 cricket. Abhishek also shares the record for the fastest hundred by an Indian batter with Urvil Patel, with both achieving the milestone in just 28 balls.

Abhishek equals Rohit Sharma

In the history of Indian T20 cricket, Virat Kohli leads the chart for most hundreds, having scored nine centuries in 397 innings. Abhishek is closing in rapidly, with eight hundreds in just 157 innings, showcasing his remarkable consistency and explosive ability in the shortest format.

Rohit Sharma also has eight centuries to his name, achieved in 450 innings, highlighting the elite company Abhishek now finds himself in.

Only behind Tilak Varma

Abhishek's blitzkrieg finally ended in the 18th over when Akash Deep dismissed him for 148, studded with 16 sixes and 8 fours. His 148 is the second-highest individual score by a batter in SMAT history, behind only Tilak Varma's record of 151 against Meghalaya in 2024.

Emulates mentor Yuvraj's feat

Abhishek hit a 12-ball fifty to equal the record of his mentor and former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh. He joins Yuvraj, West Indies' great Chris Gayle, Zazai and Estonia's Indian-origin Sahil Chauhan in scoring half-centuries off 12 deliveries in men's T20s.