In a brilliant display of powerful hitting at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Hardik Pandya during which he engraved his name in the book of records Fifth T20I against South Africa December 19, 2025.
Hardik Pandya’s devastating knock breaks record in 5th T20I vs South Africa
Coming into the fray at number five, Pandya wasted no time sending his first delivery over long-on to make his intentions known. His attack reached a counter crescendo George Linde and Corbin BoschAs he raced to a 16-ball fifty studded with four boundaries and five powerful sixes. That whirlwind knock was instrumental in propelling India to a big total in the series decider and proved yet again why he is considered one of the most dangerous finishers in world cricket. Reaching the landmark in just 16 deliveries, Pandya has officially taken second place on the list of fastest T20I half-centuries by an Indian. He now sits only behind the legend Yuvraj Singhfurther cementing his status as a modern-day great in the game’s shortest format.
Top 5 fastest T20I fifties for India
The hierarchy of India’s fastest T20I run scorers has been reshuffled after Pandya’s Ahmedabad heroics. Breakdown of top five fastest half-centuries in Indian history:
5. Suryakumar Yadav (18 balls)
India’s current captain and 360-degree specialist Suryakumar Yadav is fifth with a blitz of 18 balls. Known for his extraordinary wristwork and ability to find gaps in the fine-leg and third-man areas, Surya’s 18-ball fifties (achieved against South Africa in 2022) remain a masterclass in modern T20 innovation.
4. KL Rahul (18 balls)
Matching Surya’s timing is KL Rahul, who also scored a record 18-ball half-century against Scotland during the 2021 T20 World Cup. Rahul’s knock was a display of sheer technical finesse combined with brute power as he helped India chase down a small target in record time to increase their net run rate.
3. Abhishek Sharma (17 balls)
Young left-hander Abhishek Sharma is third with a brutal 17-ball half-century against England at the Wankhede Stadium on February 2, 2025. Abhishek’s knock showed incredible attack on bowlers like Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, where he scored 58 in a strong innings.
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2. Hardik Pandya (16 balls)
Hardik Pandya reached the second milestone today, December 19, 2025 by destroying the South African attack in 16 balls. His innings was characterized by great physicality and a clear tactical focus on targeting cow corner and long boundaries. With a flat six at Corbin Bosch, he now holds the record for the fastest fifty by an Indian on home soil.
1. Yuvraj Singh (12 balls)
The undisputed king of this list remains Yuvraj Singh, whose 12-ball fifty against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup is the most iconic moment in the history of the format. It was the same innings in which he famously hit six sixes at Stuart Brough. Nearly two decades later, Yuvraj’s world record feat remains untouched by any Indian batter.
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