India's Abhishek Sharma put on a thrilling display of hitting as he scored a 17-ball half-century against England in the fifth and final T20I in Mumbai. He fell just short of equalling Rohit Sharma's record of being the fastest Indian to score a T20I ton by two balls. Rohit had hit a 35-ball century in 2017. Abhishek also shared a 115-run partnership with Tilak Varma and ultimately finished with a breathtaking 135 off 54 balls, helping India reach their highest-ever score in the powerplay in this format with 95 runs.
Abhishek Sharma's Stunning Half-Century: A Milestone in Indian Cricket
India's Abhishek Sharma etched his name into the record books with a scintillating 17-ball half-century against England in the fifth and final T20I in Mumbai. His blistering performance brought India to the brink of a record-breaking victory and highlighted his immense talent as a rising star in Indian cricket.
Background
Abhishek Sharma is a 22-year-old opening batsman who made his international debut for India in 2021. Despite being relatively new to the international scene, Sharma has shown glimpses of his immense potential with some impressive performances in domestic cricket.
The Thrilling Display
In the match against England, Sharma came out to bat with India needing to post a challenging total. He tore into the English bowlers from the outset, smashing boundaries at will. He reached his half-century with a four off just 17 balls, becoming the second-fastest Indian batter to achieve the feat in T20Is.
Sharma continued his onslaught, putting on a magnificent 115-run partnership with Tilak Varma. He ultimately finished with a breathtaking 135 off 54 balls, an innings studded with 12 fours and 8 sixes.
Missed Record and Indian's Highest Powerplay Score
Sharma's innings fell just two balls short of equalling Rohit Sharma's record of being the fastest Indian to score a T20I century. Rohit had achieved the feat in 2017 with a 35-ball century.
Despite missing out on that record, Sharma played a crucial role in helping India post their highest-ever score in the powerplay in this format with 95 runs. This remarkable feat set the stage for India's eventual victory by 36 runs.
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