The comeback of Hardik Pandya from his Asia Cup hamstring injury was nothing short of a blessing for India, as the all-rounder not only scored his second fifty of the series but also managed to accomplish that at Ahmedabad in just 16 balls while making the South African bowlers look like mere spectators.
This stunning knock of his got Pandya onto the exclusive list of Indian batsmen who have registered the fastest fifties in T20I cricket. The list of the top-5 is given below.
- Suryakumar Yadav vs South Africa, 2022 – 18 balls
In lead-up to the T20 World Cup 2022, India entertained South Africa for a three-match T20I series in October. During the second match of the series played in Guwahati, India, who batted first, after the fifty of KL Rahul had a good opening, Suryakumar Yadav came in at 107/2 with Virat Kohli and went crazy scoring fifty in just 18 balls while also collecting 21 runs from a Kagiso Rabada over consisting of two sixes and two fours.
He was run out after a mix-up with Kohli but had scored 61(22) with five fours and five sixes and taken India to 237/3. The home side victoriously concluded the match by 16 runs to clinch the series with a match left.
- KL Rahul vs Scotland, 2021 – 18 balls
After an unimpressive T20 World Cup in the UAE, India played the final group match against Scotland at Dubai International Cricket Stadium having already lost to Pakistan and New Zealand. In order to build up a very small chance for themselves by improving their net run-rate, KL Rahul reached the fifty mark in just 18 balls, with six fours and three sixes, while the team was chasing 86 runs. His fifty made it possible for India to finish the chase in merely 6.3 overs; however, they were still not able to move on to the next round.
- Abhishek Sharma vs England, 2025 – 17 balls
After winning the T20I series, India took the lead in the fifth match at the Wankhede Stadium against England and chose to bat first. It was Abhishek Sharma’s second T20I century; he scored 135 in only 54 balls and the hosts were able to score a total of 247 runs in their 20 overs. His innings, which included 13 sixes and 7 fours, were knocked off in a mere 17 balls, thus, he came to his fifty in the fifth over with the help of 5 sixes and 3 fours.
In the end, India bowled out England for a mere 97 runs and won the match by a massive margin of 150 runs.
- Hardik Pandya vs South Africa, 2025 – 16 balls*
Settling back in Ahmedabad with a lead in the series of 2-1, Pandya went to bat at the 12.2 over mark after India had been given a great start by the openers and the scoreboard read 115/3. First ball six over the Indian dugout off Corbin Bosch, Pandya made his intention clear that he would not hold back on the attacks andthat he would takeIndia to a match-winning total. Besides hitting 20 runs off 4 balls in George Linde’s last over, he finally got to the 50-run mark in just 16 balls.
His contribution of 105(44) runs for the 4th wicket partnership took India’s score to 231/5 at the close of the innings.
- Yuvraj Singh vs England, 2007 – 12 balls
With India making a turn in history at the World T20 2007 in South Africa, Yuvraj Singh was the master executor, and the senior pitcher of Indian young guns who played pivotal role in their win over England at Durban. He got out at 155/3 when he scored 6 sixes off Staurt Broad and during the famous innings, he took the score to 216/4 before getting dismissed. Among his sixes, he reached the fifty in just 12 balls, which is still one of the timeless records even after almost two decades.
India totaled 218/4 and then won the match by 18 runs.
