Punjab captain Abhishek Sharma delivered one of the most explosive performances in domestic T20 history on Sunday morning, smashing a breathtaking 148 runs off just 52 deliveries against Bengal in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at Hyderabad's Gymkhana Ground.
Record-Breaking Start Stuns Bengal
After being sent in to bat first, Abhishek Sharma immediately found his rhythm and launched a brutal assault on the experienced Bengal bowling attack. The left-handed opener reached his half-century in just 12 deliveries, marking one of the fastest fifties in domestic cricket history.
What made his start even more remarkable was that 50 of his first 51 runs came in boundaries - comprising five sixes and five fours. The highlight of his early onslaught came against his former SunRisers Hyderabad teammate Mohammed Shami, whom he blasted for 23 runs in a single over.
Century in Record Time
The carnage continued as Abhishek stormed to his century in only 32 balls, eventually finishing with 11 sixes and seven fours by the time he reached triple figures. This spectacular knock marked his eighth T20 hundred in 157 innings, bringing him level with Indian captain Rohit Sharma in the record books.
Among Indian batters, only Virat Kohli with nine T20 centuries now stands ahead of the Punjab captain. This performance comes just one season after Abhishek smashed a 28-ball hundred against Meghalaya, which was the joint-fastest by any Indian in T20 cricket at that time.
Six-Hitting Dominance
Abhishek Sharma's innings was characterized by his incredible power-hitting, particularly his ability to target the straight boundaries with precision. He finished his innings with 16 sixes and eight fours, taking his tally to 91 T20 sixes in 2025 alone.
This makes him the first Indian batter to cross 90 T20 sixes in a calendar year, surpassing his own record of 87 sixes set in 2024. The innings also helped him overtake Suryakumar Yadav's previous record of 85 sixes in 2022.
Most T20 Sixes by Indians in Calendar Year
- 91* (33 innings) - Abhishek Sharma (2025)
- 87 (38 innings) - Abhishek Sharma (2024)
- 85 (41 innings) - Suryakumar Yadav (2022)
- 71 (33 innings) - Suryakumar Yadav (2023)
Team Milestone Achieved
Supported by Prabhsimran Singh's early fireworks at the other end, Punjab surged past 120 runs inside eight overs. Abhishek's spectacular innings eventually ended at 148 off 52 balls, but not before he had powered his team to a monumental total.
Punjab became only the second Indian T20 side to breach the 300-run barrier, matching Baroda's achievement against Sikkim in 2024. This historic performance came at a crucial time for Abhishek, who had been struggling with low scores in his comeback tournament as Punjab captain.
The innings not only showcased Abhishek Sharma's immense talent but also served as a strong statement to national selectors ahead of future team selections. His ability to dominate a seasoned bowling attack featuring international stars like Mohammed Shami demonstrates his readiness for higher challenges in the cricketing world.
