Dharamshala, June 13: Afghanistan’s opening batsman, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, scored a stunning century against India in the first ODI match at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium. This marks Gurbaz’s ninth ODI century, achieved in just 48 balls.
With this remarkable feat, Gurbaz broke the previous records held by Mohammad Shahzad (against Scotland in 2010) and Karim Sadiq (against the Netherlands in 2012), both of whom reached their centuries in 72 balls. Navroz Mangal (against Scotland in 2013) and Mohammad Shahzad (against Ireland in 2019) are tied for third place on this list.
This century is the second-fastest ODI century globally against India. The record is held by former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi, who scored a century in just 45 balls in Kanpur in 2005. Australian James Faulkner, South African AB de Villiers, and New Zealander Michael Bracewell are tied for third place, each reaching their centuries in 57 balls.
Gurbaz is now the leading century-maker for Afghanistan in ODIs. Following him, Ibrahim Zadran and Mohammad Shahzad are tied for second place with six centuries each.
During the match, Gurbaz completed his half-century in just 25 balls, marking the second-fastest fifty for Afghanistan in ODI format. Mohammad Nabi holds the record for the fastest fifty, completing it in 24 balls against Sri Lanka in 2023.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who scored a fifty in 26 balls against Pakistan in 2023, is third on the list, while Rashid Khan, who achieved the feat in 27 balls against Ireland in 2021, is fourth. Mohammad Nabi and Shafiqullah Shinwari both completed their fifties in 28 balls in 2014 and 2017, respectively.
The match between India and Afghanistan commenced at 5:45 PM due to rain delays, with both teams playing 25 overs each. India won the toss and opted to bowl first.
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