Afghanistan vs India third T20I: Abhishek’s hurricane hundred sets up Men in Blue’s emphatic series sweep

Six-hitting is a skill that Abhishek Sharma has honed to perfection. He can make it appear ridiculously easy, as though he is playing around with a joystick in a video game, but make no mistake: few can do what the 26-year-old does time and again in the T20 version. A sublime example came in the third T20I against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday as Abhishek hammered a record-breaking 34-ball 108, studded with nine fours and 11 sixes, to take India to 221 for seven.

With Afghanistan capitulating for 94 in response, Shreyas Iyer & Co. completed a resounding 127-run win for a 3-0 sweep. Nitish Kumar struck thrice in an over while Ravi Bishnoi also provided three breakthroughs.

Abhishek’s century took merely 30 balls, the fastest against a Test-playing nation and the third-quickest in all in this format. Sanju Samson chipped in with 50 off 35 balls, forging a sensational opening stand of 142 in 9.5 overs. The surface appeared to be a shirtfront when Abhishek and Samson were on song, but the others didn’t find it as easy.

Abhishek imposed himself straightaway. In the second over, Azmatullah Omarzai felt the pinch. The first of the opener’s maximums came when he swivelled and pulled effortlessly beyond deep square-leg. Omarzai persisted with the shorter length and paid the price. Off the fourth ball, he pulled out a forehand slap past mid-on for four. Two deliveries later, he made room and slashed a back-of-a-length delivery over cover for another six.

Having quickly sized up the Afghan attack, the southpaw’s carnage found a higher gear. The next over, bowled by Fazalhaq Farooqi, went for 23 runs as the Punjab lad stitched together a sequence that read 6, 6, 4, 4.

Afghanistan turned to spin early in the hope of disturbing India’s rhythm. Instead, Samson, who had scored three off his first seven balls, joined the six-hitting party. In the fourth over, he deposited Mujeeb Ur Rahman over long-on.

What followed was a 29-run over by experienced off-spinner Mohammad Nabi as the openers took turns to flex their firepower. By the time ace leggie Rashid Khan conceded 15 runs in the final over of the PowerPlay, India had raced to 100 for none.

In the ninth over, Abhishek entered the record books by reaching the three-figure mark. Ironically, his celebration was unlike the action that had transpired till then: he took off his helmet, sat down and soaked in the moment with a meditative pose.