Railways’ middle-order batter Ashutosh Sharma on Tuesday broke former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh’s record of the fastest fifty by an Indian after he completed his half-century off just 11 balls during a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Group C match against Arunachal Pradesh in Ranchi.
At the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, Yuvraj smashed his half-century off 12 balls against England in Durban to achieve the historic feat of fastest fifty. During that explosive inning, the left-handed batter hit six consecutive sixes off pacer Stuart Broad.
Two-time World Cup winner Yuvraj had held the record for the fastest fifty in T20 cricket overall for 16 years, before it was broken just last month by Nepal batter Dipendra Singh Airee against Mongolia in the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
On Tuesday, Ashutosh came to bat when Railways were 131 for 4 with just five overs to go. He smashed eight sixes and one four to score 53 runs off 12 balls and broke Yuvraj’s record.
After reaching his record-breaking half-century, Ashutosh got out in the very next ball but he ended his innings with a stunning strike rate of 441.66.
Riding on Ashutosh’s scillinating knock, Railways amassed 115 runs in just the last five overs to finish on a commanding 246 for 5 in 20 overs. In reply, Arunachal Pradesh were bowled out for 119, losing by 127 runs.
The 25-year-old Ashutosh was playing his second T20 for Railways and 10th overall. He made his T20 debut way back in 2018 for Madhya Pradesh and last played the format in 2019.
The batter has featured in just one 50-over game, for MP also in 2019. He is yet to make his first-class debut.