Rahmanullah Gurbaz Stuns India With Fastest ODI Hundred For Afghanistan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz [Source: AFP]

In a phenomenal achievement, explosive batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz smashed the fastest ODI hundred for Afghanistan. 

The opener attained the remarkable feat during Afghanistan's first ODI of the three-match series against India at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. 

Rahmanullah Gurbaz ran riot for Afghanistan despite shaky start

Opening the batting for Afghanistan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz lost his opening partner Ibrahim Zadran for one in the second over. 

Although Sediqullah Atal and Rahmat Shah departed cheaply, the dismissals of these two batters didn't affect Gurbaz, who stunned the Shubman Gill-led team with an outrageous knock. 

The stylish right-handed batter made the most of the conditions in Dharamsala, forming a valiant 116-run partnership with skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi. 

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While the Afghanistan captain struck a gritty knock, Gurbaz played the aggressor's role to perfection. He took only 48 balls to bring up his ninth ODI century, thus recording the fastest ODI hundred For Afghanistan. 

Fastest ODI hundred for Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz tops the list

• 48 - Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs India, Dharamsala, 2026, Today*
• 72 - Mohammad Shahzad vs Scotland, Alloway, 2010
• 72 - Karim Sadiq vs Netherlands, Sharjah, 2012 

Before Gurbaz's scintillating century against India, Karim Sadiq and Mohammad Shahzad jointly held the record for the fastest ODI hundred for Afghanistan. 

While Shahzad hammered a 72-ball ton in an ODI against Scotland in 2010, Sadiq did it against the Netherlands in Sharjah back in 2012, 

All records achieved by Rahmanullah Gurbaz with sublime ton

2nd fastest ODI hundred vs India

(Fastest ODI centuries vs India)

Apart from the fastest ODI Hundred for Afghanistan, Gurbaz also registered the second-fastest ton against India in ODIs. He surpassed Australia's James Faulkner, who held the record for 13 years, having slammed a 57-ball ton in 2013. 

Had he completed his century in 44 deliveries or less, Gurbaz would've broken Shahid Afridi's record for the fastest ODI hundred against India. 

2nd highest partnership for any wicket in AFG Vs IND

The 116-run stand between Gurbaz and Hashmatullah Shahidi is the second highest partnership for any wicket by an Afghan batting pair against India in ODIs. 

Interestingly, Hashmatullah Shahidi claims the top spot alongside Azmatullah Omarzai, having formed a 121-run partnership against India in the 2023 World Cup encounter between the two countries. 

2nd highest individual ODI score for Afghanistan against India

• 124 - Mohammad Shahzad
• 102 - Rahmanullah Gurbaz
• 84 - Hashmatullah Shahidi

Gurbaz's power-packed 48-ball hundred marked the second century by an Afghanistan batter in an ODI against India. 

The experienced campaigner thus registered the second highest individual score, surpassing Hashmatullah Shahidi's 84-run knock in the 2023 World Cup. 

Afghanistan's underwhelming finish despite Gurbaz's heroics

Although Gurbaz smashed the fastest ODI hundred for Afghanistan, the tourists lost the plot right after his departure in the 16th over. Apart from Azmatullah Omarzai, none of the visiting batters put up a fight against India's formidable bowling attack. 

The experienced Mohammad Nabi managed only nine runs, while Rashid Khan, Allah Ghazanfar and Ziaur Rahman departed for single-digit scores. Debutant Gurnoor Brar bagged three wickets for India, as the Afghans were bowled out for 194 runs in Dharamsala. 

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