Abhishek Sharma added yet another glittering chapter to his young career on Saturday, storming into the record books as the fastest batter in the world to reach 1,000 runs in T20 internationals.
The explosive left-hander reached the milestone in just 528 balls, surpassing India’s white-ball maverick Suryakumar Yadav, who previously held the record with 573 deliveries. England’s Phil Salt (599) and Australia’s Glenn Maxwell (604) follow on the elite list, underlining the sheer pace at which Abhishek has climbed cricket’s shortest-format ranks.
Fastest to 1000 T20I Runs
By Balls Faced
Balls
Abhishek 528
Suryakumar 573
Phill Salt 599
Maxwell 604
The landmark moment came during the 5th and final T20I against Australia in Brisbane, where the young southpaw’s aggressive intent once again defined India’s innings. Abhishek’s journey to this milestone, however, wasn’t without fortune. He was handed two early reprieves - first by Glenn Maxwell when he was on 5, and again on 11 when Ben Dwarshuis spilled a regulation chance. It was a pattern familiar to the series: in the previous game, Xavier Bartlett had dropped him in the powerplay, giving the left-hander yet another lifeline.
Abhishek had the chance to seal the record even earlier, during the fourth T20I, but fell for 28, leaving the milestone just out of reach. On Saturday, he made sure there would be no more missed opportunities.
Despite rewriting global records in terms of balls faced, Abhishek remains second among Indians when measured by innings taken. He reached the 1,000-run mark in 28 innings, just one behind the legendary Virat Kohli, who did it in 27. The list of India’s fastest to 1,000 T20I runs now reads: Kohli (27 innings), Abhishek (28), KL Rahul (29), and Suryakumar Yadav (31).
Fastest Indians to 1000 T20I Runs
By Innings Played
Innings
V Kohli 27
A Sharma 28
KL Rahul 29
S Yadav 31
Even though Kohli has stepped away from T20 internationals, his benchmark continues to inspire and challenge the new generation. Abhishek’s surge reflects the evolving face of Indian cricket - fearless, explosive, and relentless, but the “King” still reigns atop the list.
For Abhishek Sharma, this record is more than just a number; it’s a statement of intent. At just the beginning of his international journey, he has shown he can dominate on the world stage. And if his current form is any indication, Indian cricket might just be witnessing the rise of its next T20 superstar.
