In a remarkable feat, India-born Estonia batter Sahil Chauhan etched his name in cricketing history. His explosive innings shattered records as he blazed to the fastest-ever T20 century, taking just 27 balls to reach the milestone against Cyprus.
Chauhan’s whirlwind knock consisted of 18 sixes and six fours, propelling him to an unbeaten 144 off 41 balls. His breathtaking assault rewrote the record books, surpassing the previous fastest T20 century held by Chris Gayle (30 balls in the Indian Premier League) and Namibia’s Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (33 balls in T20 Internationals).
Sahil Chauhan on Rohit Sharma’s influence
Chauhan attributes his success to Rohit Sharma, the elegant Indian opener. He admires Rohit’s ability to handle pressure and play his natural game, regardless of the situation. The hook shots that Rohit executes with finesse have left a lasting impression on Chauhan. From a small village in Haryana to Estonia, Chauhan’s cricketing journey took an unexpected turn, fueled by his admiration for Rohit.
“I’ve been a big Rohit Sharma fan since I watched him play, he’s a brilliant player who doesn’t take any pressure,” Chauhan was quoted as saying by FanCode.
“Regardless of the situation, he always plays his game. I have learned a lot from him. His hook shots are my favourite,” said Chauhan, who hails from Manakpur Devilal village in Haryana.
Chauhan’s love for cricket began early in his childhood. Back in India, he played gully cricket from the tender age of 6-7 and never stopped. His uncle’s restaurant business in Estonia led him to move there, where he discovered an opportunity to play the game he cherished. A simple Google search connected him with a local team and thus began his cricketing adventure in a European country.
Estonia's Sahil Chauhan smashed the record for the fastest T20I ton, with a record 18 sixes in his 141* off 41 balls 💥
👉 https://t.co/iP4A6Gi6hK pic.twitter.com/oV3JPubMwd
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 17, 2024
In the match against Cyprus, Estonia faced a challenging target of 192 runs. When Chauhan walked in at No. 5 with the score at 40 for three, victory seemed distant. However, he played each ball on its merit, launching a relentless assault. The ball felt sweet on his bat, and he executed his shots flawlessly. Estonia secured the win with six wickets and seven overs to spare, thanks to Chauhan’s heroics.
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