Key Points
- Abhishek Sharma completes 5000 T20 runs in 2898 balls, breaking Andre Russell’s record of 2942 balls
- Scores 84 runs off 35 balls against New Zealand, hitting 5 fours and 8 sixes at Nagpur’s VCA Stadium
- Achieves landmark in just 33 deliveries, needing 82 runs at start of innings
- West Indies’ Andre Russell held previous record, followed by Tim David (3127 balls) and Will Jacks (3196 balls)
- 25-year-old from Amritsar now holds multiple T20 batting records including highest strike rate among top-ranked players
In an innings that will be dissected by batting coaches for years, Abhishek Sharma transformed a routine T20 international into a historic spectacle on Wednesday, etching his name atop cricket’s most coveted records. The Punjab-born dasher became the quickest batsman to accumulate 5000 T20 runs, achieving the feat in 2898 balls, a full 44 deliveries faster than West Indies powerhouse Andre Russell’s longstanding mark of 2942 balls.
The record-breaking moment arrived in the 12th over of India’s innings when Sharma, batting on 63, nudged a single off New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner. The understated nudge to deep mid-wicket barely registered with the crowd initially, but the dressing room erupted as teammates recognized the magnitude of the achievement. Sharma had needed 82 runs at the innings’ start and reached the milestone in just 33 balls, showcasing the aggressive intent that has become his trademark.
His final tally of 84 runs from 35 deliveries featured eight towering sixes and five boundaries, several clearing the VCA Stadium’s boundaries by margins that left fielders merely spectators. The innings propelled India to a formidable total and left New Zealand’s bowlers searching for answers against a batsman operating at a strike rate exceeding 240.
Cricket statisticians quickly updated record books that had remained unchanged since Russell’s exploits. The new top five now reads: Abhishek Sharma (2898 balls), Andre Russell (2942), Australia’s Tim David (3127), England’s Will Jacks (3196), and Glenn Maxwell (3239). Notably, Sharma is the only specialist batsman in the top three, with Russell and David considered bowling all-rounders who bat lower down the order.
The achievement carries additional weight given Sharma’s journey from Amritsar’s cricket academies to becoming the world’s premier T20 batsman. His transformation from a promising left-arm spinner who could bat to an opening destroyer has been meteoric. National selector Ajit Agarkar noted, “We saw the potential three years ago, but his work ethic and ability to clear boundaries consistently while maintaining average has been exceptional. This record validates his approach.”
Former India opener Virender Sehwag, renowned for his own explosive batting, tweeted within minutes of the record: “2898 balls to 5000 T20 runs is simply ridiculous. Abhishek Sharma is playing a different game. Congratulations on making India proud.”
The innings also highlighted Sharma’s evolution in pacing an innings. While known for blazing starts, his ability to accelerate after reaching personal milestones demonstrates maturity beyond his 25 years. Captain Rohit Sharma, watching from the non-striker’s end, played a supporting role as his younger colleague dismantled the Kiwi attack.
With the T20 World Cup approaching later this year, Abhishek Sharma’s record-breaking form positions him as India’s most dangerous weapon in the shortest format. His ability to dominate powerplays while maintaining consistency has solved a puzzle that troubled Indian selectors for years. As he walked off the field to a standing ovation, the number “2898” was already trending across social media, a figure that may stand as the benchmark for T20 batting excellence for years to come.
