T20I: India is among the top sides in the game of cricket. Irrespective of format, India has always played the best cricket and is the top-ranked side in all three formats. However, speaking of the T20 internationals, India is ranked No. 1 at the moment. One of the prime reasons for India’s success in this format is a strong batting group.
The Indian batting line-up is considered one of the strongest in the world. That is because of the availability of so many match-winners, not just the current team, even in the previous decade. That is why the fastest T20I fifty is registered under the name of an Indian batter. And in this article, we will cover the list of the fastest fifty by an Indian in T20I cricket.
5. Yuvraj Singh (20 balls) vs Australia in 2007
Yuvraj Singh is the man that had the skill of demolishing the opponent single-handedly. He holds the record of joint-fourth fastest half-century for India. It came in the 2007 T20 World Cup agaisnt Australia in Durban in the semi-final. He hit a 20-ball fifty and made 70 off 30 balls with five four and five sixes. India made 188/5 in their first innings. In response, Australia scored 173/7 and lost by 15 runs. With that win, India reached the finals and won the tournament beating Pakistan.
4. Gautam Gambhir (19 balls) vs Sri Lanka in 2009
The third fastest T20I fifty for India is registered under the name of former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir. It came in December 2009, in a match against Sri Lanka in Nagpur. Batting first, Sri Lanka made a big total of 215/5. Chasing a hue target, Gambhir gave India a flying start and hit a 19-ball fifty. He made 55 off 26 balls, with 11 fours. But India couldn’t carry on the rate and managed 186/9. Sri Lanka won that game by 29 runs.
3. Suryakumar Yadav (18 balls) vs South Africa in 2022
The joint-second fastest T20I fifty for India is registered under the name of India’s “Mr. 360” Suryakumar Yadav. It came against South Africa in October 2022 in Guwahati. It was the second game of a three-match T20I series. Batting first, India got a flying start with KL Rahul (57 off 28) and Rohit Sharma (43 off 37) adding 96 for the first wicket. Virat Kohli also played a good knock of 49* off 28 balls. But the real cameo came from the bat of SKY, who hit an 18-ball fifty and made 61 off 22 balls with 5 fours and 5 sixes. India made a massive 237/3. In reply, South Africa also batted well and reached 221/3 courtesy of Quinton de Kock (69* off 48) and David Miller (106* off 46).
2. KL Rahul (18 balls) vs Scotland in 2021
India’s star opener KL Rahul is another Indian batter who has hit an 18-ball T20I fifty. It came in the 2021 T20 World Cup against Scotland and Dubai Stadium. After winning the toss, India bowled first. Scotland couldn’t perform against the Indian bowling and got all out for just 85 runs in 17.4 overs. In reply, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul gave a strong start and added 70 runs in just 5 overs. Rohit made 30 off 16 and Rahul scored 50 off 19 balls with six fours and three sixes. India made 89/2 in 6.3 overs and won the game.
1. Yuvraj Singh (12 balls) vs England in 2007
Who can forget the most iconic T20I innings played by Yuvraj Singh in the 2007 T20 World Cup against England? He smashed Stuart Broad for six consecutive sixes in an over. Thus, he made a 12-ball fifty coming in the end and scored 58 off 16 balls, with three fours and seven sixes. India made 218/4 in their first innings. Virender Sehwag (68 off 52) and Gautam Gambhir (58 off 41) also scored half-centuries. In reply, England also batted well and made 200/6. But they lost by 18 runs, courtesy of Yuvraj’s brilliant innings.
List of Fastest Fifty in T20 by India
Player | Balls | Score | Against | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yuvraj Singh | 12 | 58 (16) | England | Durban | 19/09/2007 |
KL Rahul | 18 | 50 (19) | Scotland | Dubai (DSC) | 05/11/2021 |
Suryakumar yadav | 18 | 61 (22) | South Africa | Guwahati | 02/10/2022 |
Gautam Gambhir | 19 | 55 (26) | Sri Lanka | Nagpur | 09/12/2009 |
Yuvraj Singh | 20 | 70 (30) | Australia | Durban | 22/09/2007 |
Yuvraj Singh | 20 | 60* (25) | Sri Lanka | Mohali | 12/12/2009 |
Axar Patel | 20 | 65 (31) | Sri Lanka | Pune | 05/01/2023 |
Virat Kohli | 21 | 70* (29) | West Indies | Mumbai | 11/12/2019 |
Shikhar Dhawan | 22 | 51 (25) | Sri Lanka | Ranchi | 12/02/2016 |
Rohit Sharma | 22 | 62 (28) | West Indies | Lauderhill | 27/08/2016 |
Rohit Sharma | 23 | 118 (43) | Sri Lanka | Indore | 22/12/2017 |