In a landmark moment for Indian T20 cricket, Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Abhishek Sharma has equalled modern great Virat Kohli with nine centuries in the shortest format.
The 25-year-old Sharma, already a T20 World Cup hero, reached his ninth ton amid the ongoing IPL 2026 season. Known for lightning-quick starts and record-breaking knocks, he has rewritten power-hitting norms. Abhishek scored an unbeaten 135 off just 68 balls against Delhi Capitals in an IPL 2026 match to reach the milestone.
Both players now sit among the format’s most prolific century-makers. Sharma’s strike rate often exceeds 190, while Kohli’s ability to anchor and accelerate has produced multiple match-winning knocks. Their combined 18 T20 hundreds highlight India’s depth in white-ball batting.
Virat Kohli’s Nine T20 Centuries
| No. | Score | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100* (63) | vs Gujarat Lions | Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot | 24 Apr 2016 |
| 2 | 108* (58) | vs Rising Pune Supergiants | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7 May 2016 |
| 3 | 109 (55) | vs Gujarat Lions | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 14 May 2016 |
| 4 | 113 (50) | vs Kings XI Punjab | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 18 May 2016 |
| 5 | 100 (58) | vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 19 Apr 2019 |
| 6 | 122* (61) | vs Afghanistan | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | 8 Sep 2022 |
| 7 | 100 (63) | vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad | 18 May 2023 |
| 8 | 101* (61) | vs Gujarat Titans | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 21 May 2023 |
| 9 | 113* (72) | vs Rajasthan Royals | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 6 Apr 2023 |
Abhishek Sharma’s Nine T20 Centuries
Abhishek has scored 2 centuries for India, while has two IPL centuries as well.
Notable Knocks:
- 100 vs Zimbabwe, Harare Sports Club, 7 July 2024 (T20I)
- 135 vs England, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, 2 February 2025 (T20I)
- 141 vs Punjab Kings, Hyderabad, 12 April 2025 (IPL)
- 106* vs Meghalaya, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, December 2024
- 135* vs Delhi Capitals, 21 April 2026 (IPL)
With the IPL 2026 still unfolding, fans eagerly await more fireworks. In an era of six-hitting pyrotechnics, Sharma and Kohli have proven that class and calibre still reign supreme in the 20-over game. The southpaw, with a bright future head, is all but likely to rack up more three-figure scores in the T20 format in the coming years.