Abhishek Sharma Smashes 148 as Punjab Crosses 300

After a challenging run of low scores in his return to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Punjab captain Abhishek Sharma delivered a breathtaking performance on Sunday morning. Facing a formidable Bengal bowling attack at Hyderabad’s Gymkhana Ground, Sharma orchestrated a counterattack that left spectators and opponents alike in awe.

Explosive Start: 12-Ball Fifty

Sent in to open after Punjab chose to bat first, Sharma immediately found his rhythm. He reached a half-century in just 12 deliveries, including an incredible 23-run over off his former SunRisers Hyderabad teammate, Mohammed Shami. His early dominance set the tone for what would become one of the most explosive innings in recent T20 history.

Dominance in Boundaries

By the time he reached fifty, Sharma had remarkably scored 50 of his first 51 runs in boundaries, smashing five sixes and five fours. Partnering with Prabhsimran Singh, who also delivered an aggressive start, Punjab surged past 120 runs within the first eight overs, leaving Bengal reeling under the pressure.

Century in 32 Balls: Matching Rohit Sharma

Sharma’s assault showed no signs of slowing. He raced to a 32-ball century, hitting 11 sixes and seven fours to achieve the milestone. This was his eighth T20 century in 157 innings, equaling Rohit Sharma’s record and placing him just behind Virat Kohli, who has nine.

Consistency and Six-Hitting Feats

Sharma’s T20 dominance is not new. Last season, he recorded a 28-ball hundred against Meghalaya, marking the joint-fastest T20 century by an Indian. He also smashed 87 sixes in 2024, the highest by an Indian in a single calendar year.

Breaking His Own Record

In this innings alone, Sharma hit 16 sixes, surpassing his 2024 tally. He became the first Indian batter to cross 90 T20 sixes in a calendar year, setting a new benchmark in Indian cricket.

Most T20 Sixes by an Indian in a Calendar Year:

• 91* (33 innings) – Abhishek Sharma (2025)
• 87 (38 innings) – Abhishek Sharma (2024)
• 85 (41 innings) – Suryakumar Yadav (2022)
• 71 (33 innings) – Suryakumar Yadav (2023)
• 66 (31 innings) – Rishabh Pant (2018)
• 63 (42 innings) – Shreyas Iyer (2019)
• 60 (32 innings) – Sanju Samson (2024)

Pushing Punjab Beyond 300

Sharma eventually departed after scoring 148 off 52 balls, with 16 sixes and eight fours. His heroics helped Punjab cross the 300-run mark, becoming only the second Indian T20 team to achieve this feat, after Baroda against Sikkim in 2024.

Sharma’s innings will be remembered as one of the most remarkable in T20 cricket history, combining aggression, precision, and record-breaking feats, firmly establishing him as one of India’s premier limited-overs batters.

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Sorit Chaudhary

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