Abhishek Sharma becomes fastest to 1,000 T20I runs (by balls)
What's the story
Dashing Indian opener Abhishek Sharma has set a new world record by becoming the fastest player to score 1,000 T20I runs in terms of balls faced (among full-member teams). The Punjab-born batsman achieved this feat during the fifth T20I match against Australia at The Gabba on Saturday. He reached the milestone of 1,000 runs in just 528 balls, breaking the previous record held by his compatriot Suryakumar Yadav (573 balls).
Record-breaking feat
Abhishek only behind Kohli
Abhishek made his T20I debut in 2024 and reached the landmark in just his 28th innings Virat Kohli holds the Indian record for the fastest to 1,000 runs in 27 innings. Recently, Tim David had surpassed Suryakumar to become the quickest batter to record 1000 T20I runs for a specific full-member team. The Singapore-born dasher had completed 1000 runs for Australia in 569 deliveries. However, Abhishek has now gone past him.
Key player
Most T20I runs since debut
Abhishek's rapid scoring at the top of the order has been instrumental in giving India an early edge in T20Is. He is currently leading the batting charts in the ongoing series and was also India's top scorer during their victorious Asia Cup 2025 campaign in UAE. With a strike rate of over 190, no other full-member team batsman has scored more T20 runs than Abhishek since his debut.
Stats
Over 400 runs in away T20Is
Abhishek, who is now among the 12 Indian batters with over 1,000 T20I runs, has gone past 400 runs in away T20Is at an average of 31-plus. His strike rate is around 170. While 339 of his runs have come in home games at 39.25, the southpaw boasts 284 runs in neutral games at an average of 47.33.
DYK
Highest individual score for India in T20Is
Earlier this year, Abhishek stunned England with an incredible century at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. Abhishek's staggering 135(54) powered India to a mammoth 150-run win in that game. The young opener, who broke a plethora of records, also recorded the highest individual score for India in men's T20Is. He went past Shubman Gill, who made 126* versus New Zealand in 2023.