Afghanistan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz created history with a sensational century in the first ODI between India and Afghanistan in Dharamshala. The explosive opener smashed the fastest ODI century ever scored by an Afghan batter, reaching the milestone in just 48 balls.
Gurbaz's aggressive batting left the Indian bowlers struggling for answers. Displaying a perfect blend of power and smart shot selection, he raced to his hundred with the help of eight fours and eight sixes. His remarkable knock also made him only the second batter in history to score an ODI century against India in fewer than 50 balls.
How many runs do gurbaz scored?
The record for the fastest ODI century against India is still held by former Pakistan star Shahid Afridi, who reached the landmark in just 45 balls in 2005. Nearly two decades later, Gurbaz came close to matching that achievement with his breathtaking innings.
The match itself was shortened to 25 overs per side due to rain. After a delayed start, Afghanistan won the opportunity to bat first, and Gurbaz made the most of the conditions. Opening the innings, he launched a fearless assault on the Indian bowling attack and scored freely all around the ground.
At one stage, Gurbaz was given a lifeline when India failed to capitalize on a chance to dismiss him. He made full use of the opportunity, continuing his attacking approach and clearing the boundary regularly. The Afghan opener eventually brought up the ninth ODI century of his career in spectacular fashion.
As Gurbaz looked set to take the game completely away from India, young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy produced a brilliant yorker to clean bowl the dangerous batter. His dismissal finally brought an end to a stunning innings.
Before heading back to the pavilion, Gurbaz had scored 102 runs off just 51 balls, including eight fours and eight sixes. His record-breaking knock not only powered Afghanistan to a strong position but also secured his place in the history books as one of the most destructive innings ever played by an Afghan cricketer.
