Indian cricket team skipper Rohit Sharma achieved a remarkable milestone in his career by scoring a scintillating century against Afghanistan in the Cricket World Cup 2023. Sharma’s century came in just 63 deliveries, making it the fastest century by an Indian batter in World Cup history. The previous record was held by legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev, who scored a 72-ball century against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup.
Here are the fastest hundreds in World Cups (by balls faced):
– Aiden Markram (SA) vs SL, Delhi, 2023 – 49 balls
– Kevin O’Brien (IRE) vs ENG, Bengaluru, 2011 – 50 balls
– Glenn Maxwell (AUS) vs SL, Sydney, 2015 – 51 balls
– AB de Villiers (SA) vs WI, Sydney, 2015 – 52 balls
– Eoin Morgan (ENG) vs AFG, Manchester, 2019 – 57 balls
– Rohit Sharma vs AFG, Delhi, 2023 – 63 balls
This was also the fifth fastest century by an Indian batter in One Day International (ODI) history. Here are the fastest ODI hundreds for India (by balls faced):
– Virat Kohli vs AUS, Jaipur, 2013 – 52 balls
– Virender Sehwag vs NZ, Hamilton, 2009 – 60 balls
– Virat Kohli vs AUS, Nagpur, 2013 – 61 balls
– Mohammad Azharuddin vs NZ, Baroda, 1988 – 62 balls
– Rohit Sharma vs AFG, Delhi, 2023 – 63 balls
In the match against India, Afghanistan elected to bat first at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, which had witnessed a World Cup record of 754 runs in the previous match. However, it was Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah who stood out with his best World Cup bowling figures of 4-39. Despite a shaky start, Afghanistan’s Hashmatullah Shahidi (80) and Azmatullah Omarzai (62) put on a partnership of 121 runs to help their team recover. Afghanistan finished their innings with a total score of 272-8.
Overall, Rohit Sharma’s century and Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling performance were the highlights of the match.