VHT 2025-26: Sarfaraz Khan creates history, smashes fastest-ever List-A half century by an Indian

Published - 08 Jan 2026, 16:53 IST | Updated - 08 Jan 2026, 18:22 IST

Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan lit up the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 with a breathtaking inning, smashing the fastest-ever List A half-century by an Indian cricketer. The record-breaking blitz took place at the Jaipuria Vidyalaya Ground during the seventh round match against Punjab in the Elite Group C.

Sarfaraz scored a remarkable 50 runs in just 15 balls, breaking the long-standing record previously held by Abhijit Kale, who scored a 16-ball fifty against Baroda in 1995, and Atish Sheth, who hit a 16-ball half-century against Chhattisgarh in 2021. This is also the fourth-fastest half-century ever in List A cricket. Sri Lanka’s Kaushalya Weeraratne holds the record with a 12-ball half-century.

The 28-year-old walked out to bat after the dismissal of his younger brother Musheer Khan and wasted no time to set himself in. The right-hand batter was in sublime touch as he thrashed the Punjab bowlers mercilessly en route to his historic inning. He scored 62 runs in just 20 balls, which included seven sublime fours and five towering sixes.

Punjab skipper and all-rounder Abhishek Sharma got the bitter taste of his own medicine against Mumbai as he was smacked for 30 runs by the Sarfaraz. The Punjab captain brought himself to bowl the 10th over, as the side was defending 217 runs, and Sarfaraz scored a staggering 30 runs off a left-arm spinner’s over, which included three boundaries and as many sixes.

Chasing a modest 217, Mumbai started their inning on a strong note, with openers Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Musheer adding 57 runs in 8 overs. The 2020–21 champions were once 169 for 3, before a batting collapse helped Punjab defend the low total successfully, despite Sarfaraz's heroics.

Mumbai are currently second on the Elite Group C Points Table, with Sarfaraz scoring the most runs for them in the ongoing season, having scored 303 runs at an average of 75.75. He even had an impressive Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 as well, amassing 329 runs at an impressive strike rate of 203.8. He will be playing for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026, but remains sidelined from India's squad across formats.