Abhishek Sharma Sets T20I 2,000-Run Balls-Faced Record

Abhishek Sharma became the fastest batter to reach 2,000 runs in men’s T20 internationals by balls faced during India’s third match against West Indies, scoring the milestone in 1,024 deliveries. The record was previously held by Suryakumar Yadav, who reached the mark in 1,164 balls, according to reports of the statistic. Sharma reached the milestone at Holkar Stadium in Indore on October 11, during an innings in which he scored 69 from 30 balls. He hit six fours and five sixes before being dismissed. India made 223, with Sharma and Ishan Kishan adding 108 runs for the second wicket. Kishan scored 37 from 18 balls. Their partnership helped India build a strong start before the middle order lost several wickets in quick succession. India slipped from 115 for one to 135 for five, then added runs through later partnerships to finish on 223 all out. India went on to beat West Indies by 14 runs, according to Sharma’s post-match account, and took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. The supplied reports differ over whether the milestone came in the second or third T20I: most identify it as the third, while one calls it the second.