Team India star smashes 16 sixes, whips up 32-ball century in PUN vs BEN SMAT 2025-26 clash

Team India Abhishek Sharma smashed a record ton in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025-26 clash between Punjab and Bengal on Sunday, November 30. The left-hander smashed a 32-ball hundred as Punjab batted first.

Opening the batting, Abhishek struck a sensational 148 off just 52 balls. The star batter's stunning knock was laced with 16 sixes and eight boundaries at a strike-rate of 284.62. He was involved in a 205-run opening stand with Prabhsimrah Singh.

As a result of Abhishek's blistering century, Punjab posted a humongous total of 310/5 on the board from their 20 overs. He got to his half-century in just 12 balls, taking the attack to the Bengal bowlers from the word go.

The 25-year-old did not look back as he shattered several records along the way. While he did not start the tournament well, he got back to his best against Bengal. Captaining Punjab in the SMAT 2025-26, he led from the front with his swashbuckling innings.

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Abhishek Sharma in solid touch ahead of India's T20I series against South Africa

India are set to host South Africa for a five-match ODI series beginning Tuesday, December 9, in Cuttack. The second T20I will be played on December 11, followed by the third on December 14. The fourth T20I will be played on December 17, with the final match to be played on December 19.

South Africa are in India for a multi-format tour. They won the Test series 2-0, with the three-match ODI series to begin on November 30.

Ahead of the T20I series, the SMAT 2025-26 will serve as a perfect platform for Abhishek Sharma to continue his solid form. In India's recently concluded T20I series in Australia, he was the 'Player of the Series' with 163 runs at an average of 40.75 and a strike-rate of 161.38.

In his international career so far, Abhishek has played 29 T20Is. He has scored 1012 runs at an average of 37.48 and a strike-rate of 189.51 with two hundreds and six half-centuries. The Men in Blue will bank on him to stay in top form heading into the South Africa T20Is.