India’s 3-0 sweep of Afghanistan carried Abhishek Sharma’s fingerprints on every match. Here’s how his numbers add up across the series.
Match by match
- 1st T20I (Delhi): India chased down 157 for the loss of 3 wickets; Abhishek was named Player of the Match for his role at the top of the order.
- 2nd T20I (Delhi): Abhishek made 39 off 19 balls as India raced to 82 without loss in the powerplay, setting up a seven-wicket win built around Sanju Samson’s 57.
- 3rd T20I (Delhi): His record-breaking 108 off 34 balls anchored India’s 221 for 7, which proved more than enough as Afghanistan were bowled out for 94.
The standout numbers
- 30 balls: the time it took him to reach his century in the decisive third match – the fastest T20I hundred by any full-member batter.
- 76 not out off 22 balls: his powerplay contribution in that same innings, a new record for the highest score by any batter inside the first six overs of a men’s T20I.
- 11 sixes, 9 fours: the boundary breakdown of his 108, one of the most destructive innings by an Indian batter in the format.
Across the three matches, Abhishek was directly involved in setting up every India win, whether through a measured start in game one, an explosive powerplay in game two, or a series-defining century in game three. For the full historical context behind that final innings, read our piece on how he broke India’s fastest T20I century record, and for a wider look at his season, see our Abhishek Sharma form guide covering his performances beyond this series.
The series also offered good news elsewhere in India’s top order, with Sanju Samson answering his critics and Ishan Kishan continuing his remarkable comeback – both factors that gave Abhishek license to play his natural attacking game without needing to anchor the innings himself.