The T20I format requires batters to score at a quicker rate compared to ODIs and Tests, where they can take their time to settle in before accelerating.

Ever since Chris Gayle became the first player to hit a T20I ton during the 2007 World Cup, more than 50 odd cricketers have gone on to achieve a similar feat, with some of them managing to breach the three-figure mark at an astonishing pace.

Three players jointly hold the record for the fastest century in T20Is, scored in 35 balls. Rohit Sharma is one of them and consequently holds the record for the fastest century for India in T20Is.

Fastest century for India in T20Is

Player	Balls	Opponent	Venue	Year
Rohit Sharma	35	Sri Lanka	Indore	2017
Sanju Samson	40	Bangladesh	Hyderabad	2024
Tilak Varma	41	South Africa	Johannesburg	2024
Suryakumar Yadav	45	Sri Lanka	Rajkot	2023
KL Rahul	46	West Indies	Lauderhill	2016
Abhishek Sharma	46	Zimbabwe	Harare	2024
Suryakumar Yadav	48	England	Nottingham	2022
Suryakumar Yadav	49	New Zealand	Mount Mauganui	2022
KL Rahul	53	England	Manchester	2018
Virat Kohli	53	Afghanistan	Dubai (DSC)	2022
Shubman Gill	54	New Zealand	Ahmedabad	2023
Deepak Hooda	55	Ireland	Dublin (Malahide)	2022
Rohit Sharma	56	England	Bristol	2018
Rohit Sharma	58	West Indies	Lucknow	2018

Rohit Sharma - 35 balls vs Sri Lanka

An exquisite timer of the ball, Rohit Sharma smashed a scintillating 43-ball 118 against Sri Lanka in December 2017, reaching the 100-run mark in just 35 balls 

The Hitman, who also features among the players with the most runs in T20Is, etched his name in the history books by scoring the fastest century for India in T20Is.

The right-handed batter, who has scored the most centuries in T20I cricket, hit 12 fours and 10 sixes on a memorable night as India emerged victorious by 88 runs.

Suryakumar Yadav - 45 balls vs Sri Lanka

Suryakumar Yadav has been a revelation ever since making his international debut against England in March 2021.

Having finished 2022 as the leading run-scorer in T20Is, the swashbuckling batter continued his terrific form with a 45-ball century in the final T20I of the Sri Lanka tour of India 2023, breaking multiple records en route to his 51-ball 112*.

After tons against England (July 2022) and New Zealand (November 2022), the century against Sri Lanka made him the first non-opening batter to score three 100-plus scores in T20Is.

Moreover, all three centuries were scored in under 50 balls with SKY striking at 200-plus.

KL Rahul - 46 balls vs West Indies

One of the only two centuries scored by KL Rahul in the shortest format of the game makes it to the list of fastest centuries for India in T20Is. He touched the 100-run mark in 46 balls against the Windies in August 2016 at Lauderhill, USA.

Chasing a daunting target of 246, India lost the match by just one run.

Photo credit: Alamy

Suresh Raina was the first Indian to score a century in T20I internationals. Since then, six other Indian cricketers have joined the elite list.

Former captain Virat Kohli is the latest Indian cricketer to score a century in T20 internationals. The swashbuckling batter smashed a scintillating hundred against Afghanistan during an Asia Cup 2022 Super Four clash in Dubai to register India's highest individual T20I score. 

As many as 10 individual centuries have been recorded by Indians in T20I format - the most by any nation. Here are the seven Indians to score a century in T20I internationals.

Suresh Raina 

Former cricketer Suresh Raina was the first Indian to score a century in T20 Internationals. The flamboyant southpaw registered India’s maiden ton when he scored 101 runs off just 60 balls against South Africa during an ICC T20 World Cup encounter in May 2010. Raina’s brilliant hundred powered India to 186/5 in their allotted 20 overs before restricting the Proteas to 172/5 in their 20 overs to secure a 14-run victory.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma became just the second Indian cricketer to register a hundred in T20 internationals during South Africa’s tour of India in 2015. Rohit Sharma smashed 106 runs off just 66 balls in the first T20 international of the series in Dharamsala. Rohit’s blitzkrieg knock followed by Virat Kohli’s 43 off 27 balls helped India post 199/5 in their 20 overs. However, South Africa chased down the target in 19.4 overs.

Interestingly, Rohit Sharma is the only Indian to score four hundreds in T20 Internationals. The Indian cricket team captain slammed 118 off just 43 balls, striking at a staggering strike rate of 274.41 against Sri Lanka in the second T20I in Indore in December 2017. Rohit’s impressive ton powered India to 260/5 before bowling out Sri Lanka for 172 in 17.2 overs.

The Hitman recorded his third T20I century during the West Indies tour of India in 2018. Opening the batting, Rohit scored an unbeaten 111-run knock off just 61 balls to help the hosts post 195/2 in their 20 overs in the second T20I in Lucknow. In reply, West Indies could only manage 124/9 as India won the match by 71 runs.

The India skipper registered his fourth T20I ton against England in Bristol in 2018. Rohit scored 100 not out off 56 balls in the third T20I of the series to help India chase 199 with seven wickets in hand and eight balls to spare.

KL Rahul

KL Rahul was the third Indian to achieve the impressive feat. Chasing a daunting target of 246 against West Indies in Lauderhill, Florida, KL Rahul smashed an unbeaten 110 off just 51 balls to almost pull off an incredible run-chase in the opening T20I of the series. India fell short by just one run as they managed 244/4 in their 20 overs.

Rahul registered his second T20I hundred against hosts England in Manchester in 2018. Batting at number three, the stylish batter scored 101 not out off just 54 balls to guide India to an eight-wicket win.

Deepak Hooda

Swashbuckling batter Deepak Hooda is the fourth name on the list of Indians to score a century in T20I internationals. During India’s tour of Ireland in 2022, Hooda notched up his maiden ton against Ireland when scored 104 off 57 balls to power India to 225/7 in their quota of 20 overs. Ireland produced a spirited run-chase but fell short by just four runs.

Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav is the fifth Indian male cricketer to score a century in the shortes format internationally. Chasing a huge target of 216 against England, Suryakumar Yadav played an eye-catching knock as he scored 55-ball 117 to almost help India chase down a big total. The flamboyant knock went in vain as India suffered a 17-run defeat in the third T20I in Nottingham.

Virat Kohli

India’s star batter Virat Kohli smashed his maiden T20I ton and his 71st overall against Afghanistan during an Asia Cup 2022 encounter. In a Super 4 clash, Virat slammed an unbeaten 122 off 61 balls to register the highest individual T20I score for India. Virat’s incredible hundred powered India to 212/2 in their 20 overs. In reply, Afghanistan could only manage 111/8 in their tough run-chase.

Harmanpreet Kaur

Harmanpreet Kaur is the only Indian woman cricketer and seventh overall to score a century in T20 internationals. During an ICC T20 World Cup encounter in 2018, the India women’s cricket team captain registered his maiden T20I hundred against New Zealand women in Providence. Harmanpreet Kaur’s 103 off 51 balls helped India secure a 34-run victory.

Indians to score a century in T20I internationals (Men's)

Player	Runs	Balls	Against	Ground	Year
Suresh Raina	101	60	South Africa	Gros Islet	2010
Rohit Sharma	106	66	South Africa	Dharamsala	2015
KL Rahul	110*	51	West Indies	Lauderhill	2016
Rohit Sharma	118	43	Sri Lanka	Indore	2017
KL Rahul	101*	54	England	Manchester	2018
Rohit Sharma	100*	56	England	Bristol	2018
Rohit Sharma	111*	61	West Indies	Lucknow	2018
Deepak Hooda	104	57	Ireland	Dublin (Malahide)	2022
Suryakumar Yadav	117	55	England	Nottingham	2022
Virat Kohli	122*	61	Afghanistan	Dubai	2022

Indians to score a century in T20I internationals (Women's)

Player	Runs	Balls	Against	Ground	Year
Harmanpreet Kaur	103	51	New Zealand women	Providence	2018

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Featured photo: Ryan LIM / AFP

India cricketer Deepak Hooda set a new world record for the most consecutive wins since international debut in men’s cricket.

Deepak Hooda has now won 17 successive matches across formats since he made his international debut during a One Day International (ODI) against West Indies in 2022. 

Interestingly, the Indian cricket team has never lost a match in which Hooda has been part of the playing XI across formats. 

Since Hooda’s international debut, the Men in Blue have won all the eight ODIs and nine T20Is that the swashbuckling batter has played so far.

The Haryana-born cricketer achieved the incredible milestone during India’s commanding five-wicket win over hosts Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. 

Hooda further extended his impressive record to 17-0 after India beat Zimbabwe by 13 runs in the third and final ODI to record a clean sweep.

The Indian middle-order batter surpassed the previous record held by Romania’s Satvik Nadigotla, who registered 15 consecutive victories since his international debut in men’s cricket. Nadigotla made his international debut in a T20I encounter against Turkey in 2019.

South Africa’s David Miller and Shantanu Vashisht of Romania share the third spot for the most consecutive wins across formats after their international debut in men’s cricket.

Miller and Vashisht won 13 matches on the trot after their international debuts. While the Proteas batter made his international debut during a T20I match against West Indies in 2010, Vashisht played his first international cricket match against Austria in a T20I clash in 2019.

Former West Indies cricketer Collis King completes the top five list. The Barbados-born all-rounder was a part of 12 successive wins across formats after his international debut against England in a Test match in 1976.

Most consecutive wins since international debut in men's cricket

Player	Team	Wins
Deepak Hooda	India	17*
Satvik Nadigotla	Romania	15
David Miller	South Africa	13
Shantanu Vashisht	Romania	13
Collis King	West Indies	12

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Featured photo: Punit PARANJPE / AFP

Chennai completed a league double over Punjab for the second time in three years, this time defeating KL Rahul's team by nine wickets to end their run in this year's Indian T20 League.

Chennai, who decided to field, restricted Punjab to 153/6 after a brilliant bowling effort from Lungi Ngidi and their spinning contingent. In turn, Chennai lost a solitary wicket as Ruturaj Gaikwad scored his third consecutive half-century to end Chennai's tenure on a high. 

Having said that, let's have a look at things we learned from the game:

Tahir finally gets Gayle

Imran Tahir has been a part of the Indian T20 League setup since 2014, but not even once in these six years has he managed to bag Chris Gayle's scalp. In fact, before today’s game, Gayle has smashed the South African spinner for 39 runs in 16 deliveries, hitting at a strike-rate of 243.75 in three innings. On Sunday though, Tahir was exceptionally lustrous, especially against Gayle. Not only did he concede a boundary but also restricted the hard-hitting West Indian to just six runs off 10 deliveries against him.

There were other personal battles as well, as it was the second time this season that Shardul Thakur got the better of Nicholas Pooran. In these two games, Pooran has scored a solitary run in three deliveries against the 29-year-old.

Deepak Hooda’s effort in vain

Neither Gayle, KL Rahul nor Mayank Agarwal did enough to build momentum for the lower-order batsmen on Sunday. The trio, in fact, combined for just 67 runs and Chennai looked well on course to dismantle the rest of the order. Deepak Hooda walked in as Punjab were scoring at a measly rate of 6.08, having posted 73/4 in 12 overs. They were in a dire need of someone’s hard-hitting prowess and Hooda was arguably the last man they would have expected to take them to a respectable total, given that his last half-century in the Indian T20 League came way back in 2015 against Delhi.

The 25-year-old Rohtak native took his time to settle, but once he did, took the entire Chennai bowlers by storm. Despite getting least support from the other end, Hooda took Punjab’s run-rate from 6 to 7.65 while also completing his half-century in a mere 26 deliveries. An unbeaten 62 off 30 balls - a whopping 40.52 percent of his team’s total - is now his best ever score in the Indian T20 League. But while it was a commendable effort from the 25-year-old, the bowling contingent failed to deliver on the day as Chennai took home two points.

Chennai have got 99 problems, but Punjab isn't one of them

1: Number of wickets Punjab have taken against Chennai in two games this season.

The aforementioned data underlines the supremacy of Chennai over Punjab, not just in the current edition, but since the inception of the league. The fact that MS Dhoni’s side has won 14 of their 23 meetings against Punjab is further testament to their prevailing authority. The last time these two sides met, Punjab posted a commendable 178/4 only to see their bowlers failing to keep Chennai in check. Their best bowler on that night was Ravi Bishnoi, who conceded at an economy of 8.25. Chennai eventually won the game by 10 wickets and 14 balls still to spare.

The game on Sunday was all about Ruturaj Gaikwad’s third consecutive half-century. After Faf du Plessis departed for 48, Gaikwad continued with his steady approach to take his team to glory.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @IndianT20League

Jaipur Pink Panthers skipper Deepak Hooda has featured in all seven seasons of the Pro Kabaddi league and is the third-highest points scorer with 943.

Over the years, Hooda has shared the mat with some of the finest players in the history of the sport and on an Instagram live session, the all-rounder revealed his Pro Kabaddi Dream Team.

Hooda picked himself as the all-rounder in the side as well as the captain. Here’s the rest of the side:

Corners �?Surender Nada and Ravinder Pahal

For the Left Corner spot, Hooda went with Indian kabaddi stalwart Surender Nada.

Nada played for U Mumba for the first three seasons of the Pro Kabaddi league and won the title in Season 2. He then joined Bengaluru Bulls for a year before joining Haryana Steelers in Season 5 and captaining the side to a playoff appearance in their debut campaign. The veteran won the Best Defender Award after finishing Season 5 as the league’s leading tackle point scorer. Nada’s average of 3.13 tackle points per game is the second-highest among players over 70 appearances in the Pro Kabaddi league.

For the Right Corner spot, Hooda picked former Puneri Paltan teammate Ravinder Pahal. ‘The Hawk�? as he is fondly known, is the second man to score 300 tackle points in the Pro Kabaddi league. Only Manjeet Chhillar (339) has scored more tackle points than Pahal (326) in the PKL.

Covers �?Parvesh Bhainswal and Sunil Kumar

For the two Cover positions, Hooda went with Gujarat Fortunegiants duo Parvesh Bhainswal and Sunil Kumar.

Parvesh and Sunil have been the heartbeat of the Fortunegiants since Season 5 and have scored and assisted more tackle points than any other duo since their debut. Parvesh holds the record for most points by a Cover defender with 86, while Sunil has the second-most with 76.

Raiders �?Naveen Kumar and Pawan Sehrawat

Reigning PKL MVP Naveen Kumar was one of the two raiders that Hooda picked in his Dream Team.

The Dabang Delhi K.C. youngster had an incredible debut campaign in Season 6 before embarking on a historic year in Season 7, where he became the third man to score 300 points in a season and smashed the record for most Super 10s in a row with an incredible 21 straight and counting. Naveen led Delhi to the final of PKL Season 7 where they were beaten by Bengal Warriors.

Pawan Sehrawat was the other raider that Hooda picked for his side.

The Bengaluru Bulls raider led his side to the title in Season 6 and was named the league MVP for his incredible campaign. Sehrawat followed that up with another brilliant season, scoring 360 points in Season 7, just nine short of Pardeep Narwal’s all-time record. The Hi-Flyer also set the new record for most points in a single game, with 39 against the Haryana Steelers. Sehrawat won the Best Raider award in Season 7, becoming just the second man to win the PKL title, the Best Raider Award as well as the MVP after Pardeep.

Feature image courtesy: ProKabaddi.com

The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) has announced a 12-member squad for the 13^th edition of the South Asian Games, which is set to have new faces in both men’s and women’s Kabaddi team. All-rounder Deepak Niwas Hooda will be captaining the men’s contingent, while star raider Pawan Kumar Sehrawat has been named vice-captain.  

The much talked about competition kicks off from December 1, 2019, in Nepal and will witness teams from India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Maldives go toe to toe to bring eternal glory to their nations. 

Special consideration has been given to the performances of the players in the recently concluded Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), with youngsters like Pawan Kumar Sehrawat and Naveen Kumar coming into the spotlight.    

Considering India’s impeccable record in the South Asian Games, the team was only announced after a 20-day coaching camp that was held at the SAI NBA in Rohtak after a close assessment of their fitness and durability.

The Indian contingent has been blessed with ruthless and agile raiders like Pardeep Narwal, Pawan, Naveen and Vikas Kandola whose exploits in PKL are nothing short of extraordinary. On the defensive front, Nitesh Kumar and Surender Nada will be guarding the corners and will be assisted by the captain, Deepak and Vishal Bhardwaj in their pursuits.

Indian Men's and Women's Kabaddi Team Squad List of South Asian Games #SAG2019 #IndianKabaddi pic.twitter.com/HKxsNPACPV

�?रणधी�?कुमा�?(@KumarRandhir_) November 26, 2019

The Indian men’s team has emerged triumphant nine out of 10 times, winning gold medals from 1985 till 2016, only missing out on the coveted prize at the 1993 South Asian Games in Dhaka. 

Announcement for the women’s Kabaddi team has also ignited a breeze of confidence for yet another medal as the squad is now infused with young blood. Payal Chowdhary, Ritu Negi and Sakshi Kumari, were a part of the silver-medal winning team in 2018 Asian Games and have been called up to the side for the tournament. 

Squads:

Men’s: Deepak Niwas Hooda (c), Pawan Sehrawat (vc), Nitesh Kumar, Vishal Bhardwaj, Sunil Kumar, Parvesh Bhainswal, Naveen Kumar, Pardeep Narwal, Amit Hooda, Surender Nada, Vikash Kandola, and Darshan Kadian

Women’s: Priyanka (c), Deepika Henry Joseph (vc), Ritu Kumari, Nisha, Pushpa, Sakshi Kumari, Payel Chowdhary, Ritu Negi, Sonali Vishnu Shingate, Snehal Pardeep Shinde, Mamta Kumari Dhaka, and Harwinder Kaur

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @DeepakHooda5555