3 records made by Abhishek Sharma during his 28-ball hundred for Punjab in SMAT 2024-25 clash vs Meghalaya
India batter Abhishek Sharma displayed his power-hitting abilities once again, playing for Punjab in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024-25 season. The SMAT 2024-25 season has produced some magnificent batting performances.
Known for his exploits in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and for India, Abhishek Sharma once again showed what he is capable of once he gets going in the T20 format. In the SMAT 2024-25 clash between Punjab and Meghalaya, the left-hander powered his way to an unbeaten 29-ball 106, guiding Punjab to a comfortable seven-wicket win while chasing 143 runs.
His blistering knock included 8 fours and 11 sixes with a strike-rate of 365.51. He brought up his hundred from just 28 deliveries, showing no mercy whatsoever and charging against the helpless Meghalaya bowlers.
Courtesy of his splendid knock, not only did he give Punjab a solid victory, but also made some key records. That said, here are three such records made by the dynamic left-hander during his 28-ball hundred for Punjab in the SMAT 2024-25 clash against Meghalaya.
3 records made by Abhishek Sharma during his 28-ball hundred for Punjab in SMAT 2024-25 clash vs Meghalaya
#3 Most sixes in a T20 calendar year
During his stellar unbeaten 106-run knock against Meghalaya, Abhishek Sharma slammed 11 sixes. As a result of the same, the left-hander has now hit 87 sixes from just 38 innings so far in 2024.
He now holds the record for the most number of sixes by an Indian batter in a calendar year in T20s. In 2022, Suryakumar Yadav smashed 85 sixes in 41 innings and held this record. However, with 87 sixes in his tally, Abhishek has now overtaken Suryakumar Yadav to own this record.
Suryakumar had also hit the most sixes in 2023, smashing 71 from 33 innings, while Rishabh Pant (66 in 2018), and Shreyas Iyer (63 in 2019) are some other names on the list.
#2 Joint-fastest T20 hundred by an Indian
Abhishek Sharma smashed his century off just 28 deliveries. He ended unbeaten on 106 off 29 deliveries with 8 fours and 11 sixes at a strike-rate of 365.51. His century came in quick time as he took the attack to the opposition bowlers right from the word go.
With his brilliant 28-ball hundred, Abhishek also equaled the record for the fastest T20 century by an Indian. Just the previous week, Gujarat opener Urvil Patel had slammed a 28-ball century against Tripura in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Abhishek and Urvil now hold the joint record for the second-fastest T20 century overall, only behind Sahil Chauhan, who slammed a 27-ball century against Estonia while playing for Cyprus in 2024.
Other prominent names in this list include Chris Gayle (30 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Pune Warriors in 2013) and Rishabh Pant (32 balls for Delhi vs Himachal Pradesh in 2018).
#1 Most hundreds in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Abhishek Sharma's ton in the match against Meghalaya is his fourth hundred in the history of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy overall. He has played only 48 innings overall in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and has smashed four hundreds, which is the most by any batter in the history of the tournament.
With this hundred, he overtook the likes of Unmukt Chand, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, and Ruturaj Gaikwad to make this record. All of Unmukt, Ishan, Shreyas, and Gaikwad have three SMAT hundreds each to their name.
The likes of Devdutt Padikkal, Tilak Varma, Urvil Patel, Ricky Bhui, Manish Pandey, and Karun Nair follow with two SMAT hundreds apiece.