Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023-24: Railways Ashutosh Sharma Breaks Yuvraj Singh's Fastest T20 Fifty Record By An Indian

Since the Indian star Yuvraj Singh smashed the 12-ball half-century against England at the ICC World T20 2007, we always believed that it was one of the top records that were almost unbreakable in T20 cricket. However, the last two months of T20 cricket have thrashed this belief. Railways middle-order batter Ashutosh Sharma had a stormy innings against Arunachal Pradesh as he broke Yuvraj Singh’s record — the fastest T20 fifty by an Indian cricketer.

Ashutosh Sharma – Fastest T20 fifty by an Indian cricketer

Nepal cricketer Dipendra Singh Airee’s nine-ball fifty in last month’s Asian Games 2022 is still safe. However, Ashutosh Sharma from Railways scored an 11-ball half-century to set up a new record for the fastest T20 half-century by an Indian cricketer.

It was the Railways vs Arunachal Pradesh match at Ranchi in Group C at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023/24. After the Railways chose to bat first, they scored 246/5 in 20 overs, which became the fifth-highest total in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy or SMAT history.

Highest totals in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT)

(Updated until October 17, 2023)

Railways set up that giant total, majorly thanks to the wicketkeeper-batter Upendra Yadav’s unbeaten century and Ashutosh Sharma’s stormy half-century. Upendra Yadav scored 103 not out in 51 balls with the help of six fours and nine sixes.

In the meantime, the no.6 batter, Ashutosh Sharma, came to bat at the end of the 15th over. The 25-year-old right-handed batter hit an 11-ball fifty and scored 12-ball 53 runs before losing his wicket on the final ball of the 19th over. During that furious batting performance, Sharma smashed eight sixes and only four. He ended that innings with an astonishing strike rate of 441.66.

Fastest T20 fifties

(Updated until October 17, 2023)

In the second innings, Susheel Kumar’s 4-fer (4/17) led Railways to destroy Arunachal Pradesh for only 119 runs in 18.1 overs, as Railways won the match by 127 runs.