Photo via Hindustan Times

Abhishek Sharma’s zen mode destroys Afghanistan as India clean sweep series

Abhishek Sharma hammered a historic 30-ball century to guide India to a 127-run triumph and a 3-0 series whitewash over Afghanistan in New Delhi. The Punjab left-hander achieved the quickest T20I hundred ever by a cricketer from a Test-playing country, eclipsing Rohit Sharma's previous benchmark of 35 deliveries, and celebrated by sitting in a cross-legged meditative pose reminiscent of Erling Haaland.

After reaching his fifty in 17 balls during the fourth over—his sixth sub-20-ball half-century—Sharma drove India to 100 runs within the PowerPlay at a strike rate surpassing 340, having accumulated 76 off 22 balls by the six-over mark while Mohammad Nabi's fifth over was looted for 29 runs.

Opening partner Sanju Samson contributed 24 from 14 deliveries in their dominant 142-run first-wicket stand before later reaching his own half-century in 34 balls. Sharma was eventually dismissed for 108 when Rashid Khan deceived him with a googly, resulting in an outside edge caught behind by Rahmanullah Gurbaz, though the early onslaught had already decisively settled the contest.