Hardik Pandya created history, became the first Indian to achieve this feat by hitting the second fastest fifty for India.

By Samira Vishwas On Dec 21, 2025

Hardik Pandya created history in the fifth and last T20 match between India and South Africa at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Friday (December 19). In this match, Hardik completed his half-century in just 16 balls, which is the second fastest fifty for India in T20 International. Only Yuvraj Singh had scored a faster half-century than him, who achieved this feat in 12 balls in the 2007 T20 World Cup.

This half-century of Hardik was faster than batsmen like Abhishek Sharma (17 balls) and KL Rahul (18 balls). On the Ahmedabad ground, he put the South African bowlers under complete pressure by hitting shots all around.

Fastest half-century (in balls) for India in T20 Internationals:

Yuvraj Singh – 12 balls
Hardik Pandya – 16 balls
Abhishek Sharma – 17 balls
KL Rahul – 18 balls
Suryakumar Yadav – 18 balls

Not only this, Hardik Pandya achieved another big milestone in this match. He has also become the first Indian player to complete 2000 runs and 100 wickets in T20 International. With this achievement, Hardik also became the fifth Indian batsman to score 2000 runs in T20 International.

In the match, Hardik Pandya played an explosive inning of 63 runs in 25 balls, which included 5 fours and 5 sixes. He made an important partnership of 105 runs for the fourth wicket with Tilak Verma. Tilak Verma also batted brilliantly and scored 73 runs in 42 balls. Due to which India batted first and scored a huge score of 231 runs.

While leaving, also know that during this innings, Hardik has become the fifth highest run scorer for India in T20 International against South Africa, leaving behind Suresh Raina (339 runs). Now he has 373 runs in 15 innings against the Proteas, that too at an impressive average of 41.11.