India Smash New T20I Powerplay Record With 100/0 Against Afghanistan

India set a new team record for their fastest-ever start to a men's T20I innings, racing to 100 without loss inside the powerplay against Afghanistan in the third and final T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.

Openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson put on a blistering opening stand, taking apart Afghanistan's new-ball and spin options alike from the very first over. Sharma alone contributed 76 off just 22 balls during the phase, while Samson kept the scoreboard ticking at the other end, with neither batter separated as India brought up the milestone inside the first six overs, a mark no Indian top order had previously reached in the format.

The record-breaking start set the platform for India's eventual total of 221 for 7, with Sharma going on to complete the fastest T20I century ever by an Indian batter in the same innings. The powerplay landmark underlines the growing firepower of India's white-ball top order heading into the Asian Games, with the series ending in a 3-0 sweep of Afghanistan.