Some days in cricket, you just have to sit back and applaud. Sunday, November 30, 2025, was one of those days. In a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match in Hyderabad, Punjab captain Abhishek Sharma decided to rewrite the record books with an absolutely breathtaking display of power-hitting against Bengal, scoring a half-century in a mind-boggling 12 deliveries. It was an innings that left everyone, including a seasoned bowling attack, completely stunned.
Key Highlights
- ✓ Abhishek Sharma smashed a half-century in just 12 balls for Punjab.
- ✓ This is the joint-second-fastest fifty by an Indian in men's T20 cricket history.
- ✓ He went on to score a blistering 32-ball century and finished with 148 runs off 52 balls.
- ✓ His innings powered Punjab to a massive total of 310 for 5, the second-highest in SMAT history.
- ✓ He and Prabhsimran Singh set a record 205-run opening partnership in just 76 deliveries.
A Captain's Knock for the Ages
Let's set the scene. Abhishek Sharma, the World No. 1 T20I batter, was leading Punjab in the premier domestic T20 competition. The pressure was on, especially after a couple of low scores in the first two matches—just 4 and 6 runs. He had even been dismissed for a golden duck in a super over against Haryana, drawing a fair bit of criticism. You could say he had a point to prove.
Opening the batting with Prabhsimran Singh, he faced a formidable Bengal bowling lineup that featured the likes of Indian pacer Mohammed Shami and Akash Deep. But from the very first ball, Abhishek batted with an intent that was just on another level. He didn't just attack; he completely dismantled them. It was a calculated onslaught that silenced any and all critics in a matter of minutes.
To get to his fifty, he hammered five fours and five sixes, scoring with a strike rate of 425.00. Think about that for a second—in the 12 balls it took him to reach the landmark, he only conceded a single dot ball. He was scoring at well over 15 runs an over against everyone he faced, whether it was Shami, Akash Deep, Saksham Choudhary, or Writtick Chatterjee. By the end of the fourth over, he was already unbeaten on 52 from just 13 balls. It was pure, unadulterated carnage.
Putting the Numbers into Perspective
A 12-ball fifty is the kind of stat that makes you do a double-take. It's the joint-third-fastest fifty ever recorded in men's T20 cricket and the joint-second-fastest by an Indian player. The all-time record belongs to Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee, who did it in a ridiculous nine balls against Mongolia in 2023. The fastest by an Indian is held by Ashutosh Sharma, who got there in 11 balls for Railways in the 2023-24 SMAT season.
But Abhishek now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the game's biggest legends. The first to achieve this feat was none other than Yuvraj Singh during that unforgettable over against Stuart Broad at the 2007 T20 World Cup. Then came the 'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle, who did it for the Melbourne Renegades in the BBL in 2016. It's a list reserved for the most destructive hitters the game has ever seen, and Abhishek Sharma has officially added his name to it.
Not Just a Fifty, But a Century of Mayhem
Here's the thing: Abhishek wasn't done after reaching fifty. He just kept going. He raced to his century in only 32 balls, a knock that included seven fours and a staggering 11 sixes. This is now the third-fastest T20 hundred by an Indian. In a funny twist, Abhishek already holds the record for the joint-fastest hundred by an Indian, a 28-ball masterpiece he shares with Urvil Patel, both achieved in 2024.
He was eventually dismissed, but not before he had amassed 148 runs from just 52 balls. His final tally included eight fours and an incredible 16 sixes. This knock of 148 is now the second-highest individual score in the history of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, just shy of Tilak Varma’s record of 151. It was an innings of historic proportions, from start to finish.
Team Records Tumble in His Wake
When one player bats like that, team records are bound to fall, and they certainly did. Abhishek and his opening partner, Prabhsimran Singh, put on a clinic. Together, they forged a record-breaking opening partnership of 205 runs, which came in just 76 deliveries. This shattered the previous record of 177 set by Sanju Samson and Rohan Kunnummal for Kerala.
Prabhsimran played a brilliant knock himself, smashing 70 off 35 balls, but on this day, his incredible innings was completely overshadowed by his partner's fireworks. Thanks to this monumental start, Punjab finished their 20 overs with a colossal 310 for 5. This is the second-highest team total ever in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. It was a complete and utter domination, and they went on to win the game by a massive 112 runs.
What's Next for India's T20I King?
This performance couldn't have come at a better time for the 25-year-old from Amritsar. Already holding the No. 1 spot in the ICC T20I batter's rankings and the record for the fastest to 1000 T20I runs (by balls faced), he's a sure-shot selection for India's upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa.
While the BCCI selectors are yet to announce the official squad, an innings like this makes his inclusion undeniable. The only question now is who will partner him at the top. His usual partner, Shubman Gill, is currently out with a neck injury. This could open the door for another dynamic left-hander, Yashasvi Jaiswal, to join him for the series, which is set to be played across five venues in India.
Conclusion
In the end, Abhishek Sharma’s innings was more than just a collection of big numbers and broken records. It was a statement. Coming back from a couple of poor scores, he not only led from the front but also reminded everyone why he's considered one of the most explosive T20 batters on the planet. From the lightning-fast 12-ball fifty to the record-setting partnership, it was a masterclass in modern T20 batting that will be talked about for a very long time.
