Known for blending flare with power at the crease, Abhishek Sharma brings just as much personality to his milestones as he does to his shot-making. The dynamic opener has built a reputation for crafting memorable, custom celebrations—a habit honed on the IPL stage, and his latest historic achievement gave him the perfect moment to borrow a page from football superstar Erling Haaland’s playbook.
Abhishek Sharma’s Haaland-style celebration goes viral after 30-ball ton
After smashing a 30-ball century to set a new benchmark for the fastest T20I hundred by a Full Member nation batter, Abhishek celebrated by striking the Manchester City striker's signature meditative pose. Footage of the tribute quickly went viral across social media, capturing the young star holding the Zen-like stance to mark his record-breaking achievement.
The masterclass marked the third T20 International century of Abhishek's rising career. By reaching three figures in just 30 deliveries, he also eclipsed Rohit Sharma's long-standing national record for the fastest T20I hundred by an Indian batter.
Watch the video here:
Facing immense scrutiny over his spot in the lineup, Abhishek silenced his critics during the T20I series against Afghanistan with a series of high-impact knocks. His place at the top of the order seemed increasingly fragile, with contenders like 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sanju Samson breathing down his neck for an opening berth.
The pressure had mounted following a dry patch leading into the Delhi fixture, where the left-hander went seven consecutive innings without a half-century—a stretch that included four single-digit failures. Needing a statement performance to secure his standing in an increasingly competitive side, Abhishek rose to the challenge in dramatic fashion.
Building on a half-century in the opener and a rapid cameo in the second match, he unlocked an even higher gear in the series finale. Blasting a 16-ball fifty, Abhishek dominated the opposition before eventually departing for a magnificent 108 off just 34 deliveries, a hurricane knock decorated with nine boundaries and 11 towering sixes.