Afghanistan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz has entered the record books with an explosive innings in the first One-Day International (ODI) against India in Dharamsala. He brought up his century off just 50 deliveries, making it the fastest ODI century for Afghanistan, comfortably beating Mohammad Shahzad and Karim Sadiq’s feat.
Fastest century for Afghanistan in ODIs (by balls)
48 Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs India, Dharamsala, 2026
72 Mohammad Shahzad vs Scotland, Alloway, 2010
72 Karim Sadiq vs Netherlands, Sharjah, 2012
85 Mohammad Shahzad vs Ireland, Belfast, 2019
86 Nawroz Mangal vs Scotland, Sharjah 2013
This is also the second-fastest century against India in ODIs
Fastest century against India in ODIs (by balls)
45 Shahid Afridi, Kanpur, 2005
48 Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Dharamsala, 2026
57 James Faulkner, Bengaluru, 2013
58 AB de Villiers, Mumbai, 2015
He also registered the second-fastest fifty for Afghanistan in ODs, getting there in just 25 deliveries. Despite being reduced to 26/3 in the fifth over, Gurbaz did not slow down and, in fact, played one of the best counter-attacking innings to take Afghanistan to safe waters. India did have a couple of chances to get rid of him.
They did not use their reviews when Gurbaz was batting on 14 off 10 deliveries, then when the umpire turned down an LBW appeal. India thought that there was an inside edge, but the replays suggested otherwise. The opening batter also survived a couple of close run-out calls.
This was Gurbaz’s ninth ODI century, and he was eventually dismissed for 102 off just 51 deliveries, with eight fours and as many sixes punctuating his innings. He put on 116 off just 66 deliveries with skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi for the fourth innings to put Afghanistan in a good position.
Earlier, India won the toss and elected to field in a rain-curtailed match, which has reduced a 50-over contest into a 25-over-per-side match.
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