By Siddhant Tripathi2 min read
Indian cricket witnessed one of the most explosive batting displays in recent memory as the Men in Blue stormed into the record books during the third T20I against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Setting an unprecedented benchmark for aggressive batting, India put up a breathtaking century stand inside the first six overs without losing a single wicket.
How India Recorded Their Highest Powerplay Score in T20Is
Entering the dead rubber with series momentum on their side, India displayed relentless attacking intent from the outset. After a relatively quiet opening over yielded five runs, the floodgates burst open. India amassed a staggering 95 runs across the next five overs, reducing the Afghan bowling attack to mere spectators.
The onslaught gathered momentum in the second over, which yielded 17 runs, before ballooning to 23 runs in the third. Even when Afghanistan attempted to regain control in the fourth over, India gathered 11 runs with ease. Abhishek Sharma showed no mercy to experienced campaigners, clobbering veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi in the fifth over to race to a blistering 16-ball half-century.
The final over of the fielding restrictions capped off the mayhem against Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan. Abhishek picked the boundaries with absolute precision, clearing the ropes on the final delivery to bring up India’s 100 runs in just 36 deliveries. The landmark rewrote India’s previous best powerplay total of 95 for 1, which came against England at the Wankhede Stadium.
Abhishek Sharma’s Unstoppable Whirlwind
While Sanju Samson provided reliable support at the other end with a solid 24 off 14 deliveries, it was Abhishek who turned the powerplay into personal target practice. The dynamic southpaw hammered 76 runs from only 22 balls during the initial six overs, registering the highest individual score by any batter in the powerplay phase in men’s T20I history.
Abhishek’s boundary-laden blitz didn’t stop there. He went on to smash a stunning century in just 30 balls, surpassing Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball national record and registering the quickest T20I hundred ever by a batter from a Full Member nation. The fearless brand of cricket championed by team management was on full display in the national capital, sending a resounding warning to international bowling attacks worldwide.