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Left-handed batter Abhishek Sharma lit up the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy (SMAT) with a jaw-dropping display of power-hitting as Punjab demolished Bengal in an Elite Group C match in Hyderabad on Sunday, November 30.
Opening the innings with Prabhsimran Singh, the left-hander unleashed one of the most dominant T20 knocks by an Indian batter, smashing 148 off just 52 balls to break a series of domestic records and propel Punjab to a massive total.
Facing a Bengal attack featuring veteran India pacer Mohammed Shami, Abhishek reached his fifty in a mere 12 balls, signalling the carnage that followed. His innings, packed with seven fours and 11 sixes, saw him strike at over 300, leaving bowlers with no answers and fans in awe of the brutal hitting on display.
Meanwhile, Shami conceded 61 runs in his quota of 4 overs.
12-ball fifty, 32-ball century: Abhishek Sharma rewrites the record books
Abhishek’s innings will go down as one of the most statistically significant in Indian T20 history. His 12-ball fifty is now the second-fastest T20 half-century by an Indian, narrowly behind Ashutosh Sharma’s 11-ball blitz for Railways against Arunachal Pradesh. The left-hander maintained his sensational tempo to reach his hundred in 32 balls, making it the third-fastest T20 century by an Indian across all competitions.
The scales kept tipping as Punjab’s innings progressed. Abhishek hammered 17 sixes, the second-most in a single SMAT match, stamping his authority as one of the fiercest young hitters in the domestic circuit. His ability to maintain clean hitting zones, particularly over midwicket and long-on, left Bengal scrambling for answers throughout the powerplay and beyond.
Abhishek’s record first-wicket stand with Prabhsimran Singh lifts Punjab to 310
Adding to the spectacle, Abhishek and Prabhsimran forged a record-breaking 205-run opening partnership, now officially the highest first-wicket stand in SMAT history. Their relentless aggression ensured Punjab dominated from the outset, putting Bengal’s bowlers under immediate pressure in Hyderabad’s batting-friendly conditions.
When Punjab’s innings eventually closed at 310, it marked only the second instance of a team crossing the 300-run mark in SMAT history. The only previous occurrence came in 2023 when Baroda amassed 349 against Sikkim. Abhishek’s monumental knock played the defining role, with Prabhsimran offering steady support to keep the momentum flowing.
148: Second-highest individual score ever in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy
Abhishek’s blistering 148 is now the second-highest individual score in SMAT history, narrowly missing the all-time mark but comfortably etching his name among the format’s elite. His calm head at the crease, coupled with unrelenting aggression, reflected a perfect blend of timing and brute force.
For Punjab, the innings sets the tone for their SMAT campaign, showcasing the depth and firepower of their top order. For Abhishek, it is yet another statement performance, reinforcing his credentials as a match-winner at both domestic and international levels.
Also READ: 10 sixes, 12 fours – CSK batter Urvil Patel smashes 31-ball century in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
