During the T20 International match between India and South Africa on December 19 (Friday) in Ahmedabad, Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya unleashed havoc with his bat. Pandya smashed a rapid half-century off just 16 balls, aided by five sixes and four boundaries. The right-handed batsman amassed 63 runs in just 25 balls, including a total of five fours and five sixes.
With this achievement, Pandya clocked the second fastest fifty by an Indian in T20 International cricket, taking only 16 balls. He surpassed opening batsman Abhishek Sharma, who had scored a fifty off 17 balls against England earlier this year at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Both KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav fell behind Pandya, having previously completed fifties in 18 balls each.
Remarkably, Yuvraj Singh remains the Indian cricketer with the fastest T20 International half-century. The left-handed batsman achieved this feat in just 12 balls against England during the 2007 T20 World Cup, famously hitting six sixes in an over bowled by Stuart Broad.
T20 International: Fastest Half-Centuries by Indian Batsmen (Balls):
12 - Yuvraj Singh vs. England, Durban, 2007 World Cup 16 - Hardik Pandya vs. South Africa, Ahmedabad, 2025* 17 - Abhishek Sharma vs. England, Wankhede, 2025 18 - KL Rahul vs. South Africa, Dubai, 2021 18 - Suryakumar Yadav vs. South Africa, Guwahati, 2022
In this match, Pandya also formed a blistering 4th wicket partnership of 105 runs with Tilak Varma, who contributed 73 runs off 42 balls, including ten boundaries and one six. The explosive innings by Tilak and Pandya propelled the Indian team to 231 runs with the loss of five wickets.
