The first T20I between India and England ended without a result due to rain, but it became the stage for Indian batter Abhishek Sharma to showcase his dynamic power-hitting innings that made him the fastest cricketer to reach the milestone of 100 sixes in T20I cricket.

 

After the early fall of the wickets of the Indian openers Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma came to the rescue with a blistering 59 runs in just 24 balls. Before reaching this score, he achieved another milestone by reaching 100 sixes in just 785 deliveries, leaving behind West Indies opener Evin Lewis, who held this record before Sharma broke it.

 

The value of this moment can be measured by the fact that only four players other than Abhishek Sharma in Indian cricket have achieved this landmark – Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Virat Kohli. These are not just ordinary players but some of the biggest names in Indian cricket. However, there are others who have taken even fewer deliveries to reach this milestone. Delving into their achievements, let's find out the top five fastest batters to hit 100 sixes in T20I cricket.

 

Tim David

 

 

The Australian batter is known for his power-hitting ability and often works as a finisher for his team. Though coming late in the batting order, he ensures he delivers what is expected of him and wins matches in tough situations, which places him fifth on this list as he took only 931 deliveries to reach the mark of 100 sixes.

 

Finn Allen

 

 

The fearless power-hitter of the New Zealand team, Finn Allen, is an opening batter for New Zealand in the T20I format. His explosive batting has broken many records, including the New Zealand record for the highest number of individual sixes in a single innings, which he surpassed by hitting 16 sixes against Pakistan. Furthermore, he was also the driving force for New Zealand in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, where he hammered 298 runs at a strike rate of over 200. It is no surprise that he is also on this list, having crossed the mark of 100 sixes in just 871 balls.

 

Karanbir Singh

 

 

Representing Austria, Karanbir Singh has emerged as one of the most destructive batters in Associate cricket with his fearless approach and exceptional power-hitting. The right-handed batter has been instrumental in Austria's rise in T20I cricket, consistently producing match-winning performances at the top of the order. His explosive batting helped him become the third-fastest batter to reach 100 sixes in T20I cricket, achieving the milestone in just 817 deliveries. Karanbir's remarkable six-hitting ability has also seen him break several T20I records, establishing himself as one of the most exciting power-hitters in the shortest format of the game.

 

Evin Lewis

 

 

Before Abhishek Sharma rewrote the record books, West Indies opener Evin Lewis held the record for being the fastest batter to hit 100 sixes in T20I cricket. Known for his explosive starts and fearless stroke play, Lewis reached the milestone in just 789 deliveries. His aggressive batting at the top of the order has made him one of the most destructive T20 batters in world cricket, capable of changing the course of a match within a few overs.

 

Abhishek Sharma

 

 

Abhishek Sharma now sits at the top of this elite list after becoming the fastest batter to smash 100 sixes in T20I cricket. The Indian opener achieved the milestone in just 785 deliveries, surpassing Evin Lewis' previous record of 789 balls. He reached the landmark during the first T20I against England with a breathtaking knock of 59 runs off 24 balls, further cementing his reputation as one of the most explosive batters in the shortest format.

 

Final Thought

 

The game of cricket is now rarely seen with a scoreboard dominated by singles and doubles. Since the inception of the T20 format, the emphasis has been placed more on sixes and fours, where viewers and batters alike want to see the ball sail over the boundary, and even a single dot ball can prove costly while disappointing the viewers. With these new norms taking root in the game and records being broken one after another, we should not forget about the other formats that have brought this game to where it is today and are considered the true spirit of the sport. Because it's not about who hits the most sixes but about who stays till the end, and this requires skill, patience, and endurance—qualities that you would often find in the legends of this game.