T20 cricket, the shortest and most exciting format of the game, demands quick scoring and innovative shots. Indian cricketers have been an integral part of this T20I scenario where several players have reached the rare milestone of scoring a century in this fast-paced format.
From experienced players like Rohit Sharma to a youngster like Tilak Varma, all have made it to the long list of India’s T20I centurions. However, Suresh Rain was the first Indian player to score a century in the shortest format of the game, T20Is.
Here’s a closer look at these inspiring cricketers and their dreamscapes.
Rohit Sharma: The King of India’s T20Is
Rohit Sharma is the record holder of most T20I centuries by an Indian, five to his name. The elegant yet destructive style of batting of Rohit has earned him 4231 runs in 159 matches with a great strike rate of 140.89. Certainly, his fastest T20I hundred off just 35 balls against Sri Lanka in December 2017 will remain an all-time record.
Suryakumar Yadav: The 360-Degree Game Changer
Suryakumar Yadav has redefined T20 batting with his ability to smash shots all around the ground. Having tallied four T20I centuries for India, he’s simply been a match-winner. One of his finest knocks came in 2023 when he scored a quick 45-ball hundred against Sri Lanka, in an all-guns-blazing and innovative manner.
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Sanju Samson: The Power Hitter
Sanju Samson became the first person to score three T20I centuries in a calendar year, and his second century, against South Africa in Durban, was a fine display of power-hitting, with 10 sixes in the innings. It is a record that he shares with other top Indian batters. Sanju also has the distinction of being the first Indian to score two consecutive T20I centuries, a feat later matched by Tilak Varma.
KL Rahul is a Top-Order Batsman with Reliable Flair
KL Rahul has two T20I hundreds under his belt, both of which were match-winning knocks. His unbeaten 110 against England in 2018 was one of the finest performances he has ever put up, showing that he can anchor an innings and still maintain an excellent strike rate.
Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma: The New Sensations
The new entrant in the Indian T20I century-list is that of Tilak Varma. The young batting sensation scored two consecutive centuries in India’s recently-concluded tour of South Africa. Explosive hitting and a calm temperament under pressure have made him one of the talked-about players within Indian cricket. Abhishek Sharma also smashed two beautiful centuries against Zimbabwe (100) and England (135).
Emerging stars in Indian T20 Cricket
The young stars Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal have also done well by scoring hundreds each in T20Is. They are the future of Indian cricket. Other players Ruturaj Gaikwad and Deepak Hooda also joined this crème da la crème club along with mighty Virat Kohli, as he scored his only T20I century in a brilliant 122* against Afghanistan back in 2022.
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