Abhishek Sharma's Pre-Match Rousing Pep Talk in Punjabi Goes Viral After Opener Hits Fastest T20I Century For India
Abhishek Sharma smashed the fastest T20I century for India in just 30 balls against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on September 17, 2026. His record-breaking 108 off 34 balls followed a viral Punjabi 'Soorma' pep talk, leading India to a 3-0 series sweep.
Indian cricket sensation Abhishek Sharma delivered a performance for the ages yesterday, September 17, 2026, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The dynamic left-hander not only blasted the fastest T20 International century by an Indian, reaching the milestone in a breathtaking 30 balls against Afghanistan, but his rousing Punjabi pep talk before the match also took social media by storm. India went on to secure a dominant 3-0 series sweep over the visitors. List of Fastest T20I Centuries For India After Abhishek Sharma's 30-Ball Hundred.
Abhishek Sharma Walks The Talk
The 'Soorma' Spirit Unleashed
Even before he stepped onto the field to craft his record-breaking century, Abhishek Sharma rallied his teammates with an impassioned pep talk in Punjabi, a video of which was shared by the BCCI and instantly went viral. Addressing the team in a huddle, Sharma declared, 'So boys, today we are going to play like soormas. Soorma means warriors. The way we've been playing this entire series, that's exactly how we need to finish it today.'
He continued, urging his team to show no mercy and entertain the home crowd. 'Warriors never show mercy to anyone. We aren't letting them off the hook today. It's the last match of the series, look at the crowd, we are going to give them full entertainment. Alright? Otherwise, let's smash it. Chak de phatte, nap de killi, subah Jalandhar, shaam nu Delhi,' he added, encapsulating the aggressive spirit that defined India’s performance.
Dominant Series Performance
Sharma’s century capped off a dominant series for India, who had already secured the series win with victories in the first two T20Is where he contributed 82 and 39 runs respectively. Afghanistan were ultimately bowled out for 94 in reply to India's 221-7, completing a comprehensive 3-0 whitewash for the Men in Blue. Abhishek Sharma Celebrates India’s Fastest T20I Century with Meditation Yoga Pose
Record-Breaking Knock
The 26-year-old Amritsar-born opener was in sublime form during the third and final T20I of the series. Chasing a target, Sharma unleashed an onslaught of 11 sixes and 9 fours, eventually falling for a sensational 108 runs off just 34 deliveries. His incredible innings shattered the previous record for the fastest T20I century by an Indian, held by Rohit Sharma, who had reached his hundred in 35 balls against Sri Lanka in 2017.
Abhishek's monumental effort is also the quickest T20I hundred by a batter from a Test-playing nation, surpassing New Zealand's Finn Allen and Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza (both 33 balls), and stands as the third-fastest T20I century overall. Abhishek Sharma Breaks Rohit Sharma's Record For Fastest Century For India in T20 Internationals.
His fifty came in a mere 16 balls, marking it as the joint third-fastest for India. The aggressive approach was evident from the start, as he found his rhythm quickly, plundering boundaries against Azmatullah Omarzai and Fazalhaq Farooqi early in his innings.
This phenomenal century and the viral pep talk have further cemented Abhishek Sharma's status as one of India's most exciting young cricketers, showcasing not just his explosive batting prowess but also his leadership qualities and ability to inspire his team.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 18, 2026 11:29 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).