Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who was sacked from Delhi state’s captaincy after having led the team to Ranji Trophy final only a week before, blasted an unbeaten 116 off just 38 deliveries against Himachal in a North Zone T20 League (Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy) fixture leading his team to a crushing 10-wicket victory on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 145 set by Himachal, Pant got to the triple-figure mark off just 32 balls – the fastest by an Indian in T20 history – and along with Gautam Gambhir (30 not out off 33 deliveries), chased down the target in just 11.4 overs.
West Indies swashbuckling opener Chris Gayle still holds the record for the fastest century in the format as he clubbed 100 off just 30 deliveries against Pune Warriors India during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2013 in Bengaluru.
During his maverick innings, Pant clobbered 12 sixes and four fours to add to his tally of four catches behind the stumps earlier during Himachal innings.
While chasing the Himachal target, Pant and Gautam Gambhir opened the batting for Delhi and showed their intent from the very first over. Though Gambhir did not take the risks, Pant did not shy away from launching an all-out attack against the Himachal bowlers. Gambhir rotated the strike with ease and scored 33 runs off 38 balls.
Pant, however, did not seem to care and his stroke-making was on full display. His strike-rate read 305.26 and that helped Delhi chase down the target off just 70 balls.
