Few batters in world cricket have had a 2026 quite like Abhishek Sharma. A look back at his year shows a player who has gone from promising talent to genuine record-breaker.
Early season milestones
Abhishek’s year included his maiden T20I century in Zimbabwe, reached in fewer innings than any other Indian batter in history, and a record-breaking 5000 T20 runs milestone – reached in just 2,898 balls, faster than anyone else in the format’s history, ahead of West Indies’ Andre Russell. Since the start of 2025, he has scored well over 1,000 T20I runs at an average above 45 and a strike rate beyond 200.
The Afghanistan series
His most recent series was also his most spectacular. Across three matches against Afghanistan in Delhi, he contributed 39 off 19 balls in game two before producing a record-breaking 108 off 34 balls in the decisive third match – the fastest T20I century by any full-member batter. The full numbers from that innings are broken down in our deep dive on the record itself.
What makes him so destructive
- Seven T20I fifties reached in under 25 balls – the most of any batter in the format alongside Saudi Arabia’s Faisal Khan.
- A powerplay strike rate that regularly outpaces the rest of India’s top order.
- A calm, low-key celebration style, most recently a brief meditation pose after his century against Afghanistan.
With India’s top order now also featuring a resurgent Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan’s remarkable comeback story, Abhishek has the license to play with total freedom at the top of the order – a dynamic that has turned India’s powerplay into one of the most feared periods in world T20 cricket. For the ball-by-ball detail of his most recent series, our stats breakdown against Afghanistan has the complete picture.