Indian opening batter Abhishek Sharma broke the record for the fastest T20I century by an Indian, reaching his hundred in just 30 balls against Afghanistan in the third T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday.
A Record-Breaking Carnage in Delhi
In an exhilarating display of power hitting, Abhishek dispatched the opposition attack across all parts of the ground, hammering 10 sixes and nine fours to reach his third T20I century. His blistering knock surpassed former captain Rohit Sharma’s previous Indian record of a 35-ball hundred set against Sri Lanka in 2017. Furthermore, Abhishek’s 30-ball blitz stands as the fastest T20I century scored by any batter from a full member nation.
The explosive left-hander’s onslaught powered India to 132 without loss in merely 8.3 overs, setting the foundation for a dominant 127-run victory. The triumph capped off a resounding 3-0 series whitewash against Afghanistan.
The Meaning Behind the Meditation Pose
Upon completing his historic milestone, Abhishek immediately dropped to the turf and assumed a calm meditation pose. While spectators drew instant comparisons to Manchester City football star Erling Haaland’s iconic goal celebration, the Indian opener clarified after the match that his gesture had a far deeper, personal meaning.
Speaking to match broadcasters, Abhishek explained that the celebration was designed to raise awareness about the transformative power of meditation and manifestation in managing the intense pressures of elite international cricket.
"This is something I have been doing for quite some time, six months to a year. I have focused a lot on meditation and manifestation because when you are playing cricket throughout the year, there are a lot of ups and downs as a cricketer."
Mindfulness Amid International Pressure
Navigating the emotional highs and lows of professional sport requires constant mental strength, a discipline Abhishek has cultivated over the past six to eight months. He highlighted how adopting daily meditation practice helped ground his mind and maintain stability through the fluctuating demands of the game.
"So how do you keep your mind stable in that? I think meditation really helped me a lot, and I just wanted that if someone sees it, if any cricketer feels that it actually really helped me from the last six to eight months. So that was the specific celebration for that, that this is something which is keeping me stable," Abhishek stated post-match.
TL;DR
- Abhishek Sharma scored a record 30-ball century against Afghanistan in the third T20I.
- He surpassed Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball record to become the fastest Indian T20I centurion.
- The knock featured 10 sixes and 9 fours, propelling India to a 127-run victory.
- Sharma celebrated by dropping into a meditation pose to promote mental well-being.
- He clarified the gesture was not copying footballer Erling Haaland, but about mental stability.
