A new king has been crowned in Indian T20 batting. In a sensational display of power-hitting, Abhishek Sharma has surpassed Virat Kohli to become the Indian with the most centuries in T20 cricket, marking a potential shift in the landscape.
History Made in Wellington
The stage was
set in Wellington for the third T20I, with India looking to seal the series against New Zealand. While the Kiwis posted a formidable 198 on the board, thanks to a powerful innings from Daryl Mitchell, what followed was pure carnage. Opening the batting, Abhishek Sharma didn't just chase the target; he demolished it. He blazed his way to a century, his 11th in the T20 format, officially breaking the record he previously shared with modern-day legend Virat Kohli for the most T20 hundreds by an Indian player. The knock not only secured a six-wicket victory and the series for India but also placed Abhishek firmly at the pinnacle of India's T20 run-scorers. His celebration, a calm acknowledgment of a historic feat, belied the storm he had just unleashed.
Anatomy of a Record-Breaking Innings
This wasn't just a century; it was a statement. Abhishek reached the three-figure mark in a blistering 35 balls, an innings studded with nine fours and a staggering 11 sixes. He finished with 113 runs off just 38 deliveries, scoring at a mind-boggling strike rate of nearly 300. From the very first over, which went for 26 runs, Abhishek and his opening partner Vaibhav Sooryavanshi showed their intent. They shattered the record for the highest powerplay score in men's T20I history, putting on 118 runs in the first six overs. Even after Sooryavanshi fell for a rapid 45, Abhishek continued his assault, treating a world-class bowling attack with disdain. Each boundary was a mix of impeccable timing and brute force, cementing this innings as one of the most destructive ever seen in Indian colours.
Surpassing a Modern-Day Legend
To understand the magnitude of this achievement, one must understand the record he broke. Virat Kohli's 10 centuries in T20 cricket stood as a benchmark of excellence and consistency. Kohli, a master of building an innings across all formats, had set the standard. Abhishek has now eclipsed that, becoming only the third batsman in world cricket to score more than 10 T20 hundreds, placing him in the elite company of global T20 titans Chris Gayle (22) and Babar Azam (13). While Kohli's legacy as one of cricket's all-time greats is untouchable, Abhishek's feat signals the arrival of a new generation of Indian batters who have not just learned from the masters but are now building their own monumental legacies in the sport's shortest format.
The Rise of Abhishek Sharma
For those who have followed his career, this record-breaking moment feels like a destiny fulfilled. The 26 year old left hander from Punjab has always been known for his aggressive, fearless brand of cricket. After leading Punjab to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, he made a name for himself in the IPL with Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he won the award for most sixes in a season. Since his international debut in 2024, his rise has been meteoric. This was his fourth century in T20 internationals, a format in which he has consistently scored at a strike rate approaching 200. His game is built on a simple philosophy: dominate the bowler from ball one. This century was not an outlier but a confirmation of a pattern of explosive run scoring that has now made him one of the most feared T20 openers in the world.
