Abhishek Sharma produced a breathtaking display of T20 batting on Sunday, hitting the joint third-fastest half-century in men’s T20 cricket off just 12 balls while scoring an unbeaten 148 for Punjab against Bengal in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). The world No 1 T20 batter smashed 16 sixes and eight fours, forming a record 205-run partnership with opener Prabhsimran Singh in just 13 overs. Sharma’s 16 sixes rank second only to Punit Bisht’s 17 for Meghalaya versus Mizoram in the 2020‑21 edition.

Sharma’s 12-ball fifty equalled the record set by his mentor and former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh. Facing only one dot ball, he dispatched five sixes and five fours, targeting bowlers both down the ground and on the leg side. Despite his phenomenal effort, the fastest T20 half-century by an Indian remains Ashutosh Sharma’s 11-ball feat for Railways against Himachal Pradesh in 2023‑24. ‘

With this innings, Abhishek now joins Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle, Hazratullah Zazai and Sahil Chauhan in scoring half-centuries off 12 deliveries in men’s T20s, while the global record belongs to Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee, who completed a nine-ball fifty against Mongolia at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.

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Sunday’s performance also highlighted Sharma’s ability to dominate top-class bowling, including Indian pacers Mohammed Shami and Akash Deep, providing Punjab with a commanding platform in the Elite Group C clash at Hyderabad’s Gymkhana Ground. Punjab, bolstered by Sharma’s innings, currently tops Group C, with a strong net run rate giving them an edge as the round-robin phase progresses. Bengal, in contrast, faces an uphill task in improving their campaign after a heavy defeat.

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India’s premier domestic T20 competition, features 38 state and regional teams, divided into elite and plate groups. The tournament is a crucial platform for players to stake claims for IPL selection or national T20 call-ups. Performances like Sharma’s have consistently drawn attention; last season, he had recorded one of the fastest T20 centuries by an Indian off just 28 balls, further solidifying his reputation as a destructive batter in limited-overs cricket.

Sharma’s innings not only boosted Punjab’s prospects in the tournament but also reinforced his credentials as one of India’s most explosive domestic T20 talents. With his growing consistency and record-breaking performances, he has positioned himself firmly on the radar for future national T20 assignments, making him a player to watch as the domestic season unfolds.