Left handed Abhishek Sharma burned Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy (SMAT) Punjab with a jaw-dropping display as Punjab fell to Bengal in an elite group in Hyderabad on Sunday, November 30.
The Left-Hander, who opened the innings with Prabhsimran Singh, made the most dominant T20 knock of all time, smashing a number of domestic records in a series and smashing 148 to test Punjab in a massive manner.
Facing a Bengal attack that includes the veteran Indian pacer Muhammad ShamiAbhishek reached his fifty-one off 12 balls, signaling the carnage that followed. His innings, which was studded with seven fours and 11 sixes, saw him strike more than 300, drive the bowlers, fearless of the marvelous strike and send fans flying.
Meanwhile, Shami conceded 61 runs in his quota of 4 overs.
12-Ball fifty, 32-Ball Century: Abhishek Sharma rewrote the record books
Abhishek’s innings will go down as the most statistically significant in Indian T20 history. The 12-ball fifty is now India’s second-fastest T20 by an Indian, behind Ashutosh Sharma’s 11-ball blitz for railways against arunachal pradesh. Left worker, 32 percent of the ball in 32 percent of the ball to reach the sensitive pace.
The scales are tipping as Punjab’s innings progresses. Abhishek has made his mark as one of the fiercest young hitters in the domestic circuit, second most in a single SMAT match, second tradition. Left bengal scrambling for clear hitting zones, especially merwicket and long, left bengal scrambling, power and beyond.
Abhishek’s record first wicket stand with prabhsimran singh lifts Punjab to 310
Adding to the spectacle, Abhishek and Prabhsimran’s record breaking opening partnership of 205 is now officially the highest first wicket stand. Their relentless aggression dominated from the start, putting the Bengal bowlers under immediate pressure in Hyderabad’s batting-friendly conditions.
When Punjab’s innings eventually closed at 310, it marked the second instance of a team reaching the 300 mark in SMAT history. The only previous occasion came in 2023 when Baroda scored 349 against Sikkim. Abhishek’s monumental knock played some role with Prabhsimran offering constant support to keep the mindset going.
148: Second highest individual score in Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy
Abhishek’s blistering 148 is now the second-highest individual score in SMAT history, narrowly missing the all-time mark but comfortably among the format’s elite. It reflected a perfect blend of timing and brute force combined with harmless aggression.
The innings for Punjab set the tone for the SMAT campaign, showcasing the depth and fire rate of their top order. Another statement performance for Abhishek, cementing his credentials as a match-winner both domestically and internationally.
Read: 10 Sixes, 12 Fours, CSK all-rounder Urvil Patel’s 31-ball century in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
