There is a reason why Abhishek Sharma is the number one T20I batter right now. Abhishek Sharma fastest to 5000 T20 runs and you might be wondering whose record did he break to achieve this milestone and it will really shock you. The player is currently at the top of his game, and with each match, he is reaching new heights and breaking records. Can Abhishek continue his great form and help India defend their T20 World Cup title is the question.
Abhishek Sharma broke this record in the India vs New Zealand first T20I, which was played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. In that match, Abhishek scored 84 runs in just 35 balls, which included five boundaries and eight big sixes. He brought up his fifty in just 22 balls. Eventually, India won that match by 48 runs and lead the five-match T20I series 1-0.
Also check out: India vs New Zealand 1st T20I: Did Abhishek Sharma really reveal his weakness?
Abhishek Sharma fastest to 5000 T20 runs: Whose record did he break to achieve this milestone?
It just took Abhishek Sharma 2898 balls to score 5000 runs in the T20 format, and he became the quickest player to have this record to his name. Previously, the record belonged to the West Indies all-rounder, Andre Russell. Basically, Andre Russell achieved this record in 2942 balls, which no other player has achieved with a strike rate of 160 or more. Currently, when we look at Abhishek Sharma’s strike in T20Is, it is over 170, which shows how quickly he scores runs in the shorter format.
Seven out of his 28 half-centuries have come in less than 25 balls, which states he also has the record for the most sub-25-ball half-centuries for a batter in men’s T20Is. The player who, along with him, is Saudi Arabia’s Faisal Khan. Other players such as Evin Lewis, Rohit, Phil Salt, and Suryakumar Yadav have six each. The 22-ball fifty against New Zealand in the first T20I made his became the quickest player to register a half-century against New Zealand in the T20I format.
The next record he would chase is to become the quickest player to score 9000 T20I runs. This record is currently held by Andre Russell in 5321 balls, whose record Abhishek Sharma broke to reach quickiest 5000 runs. The player at the second position to score the fastest 9000 T20 runs in India’s current T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, as he did it in 5911 balls, whereas Glenn Maxwell is at number three as he did it in 5915 balls.