Zimbabwe’s T20 world record didn’t even last two months. Back in October, during the T20 World Cup Qualifiers, Zimbabwe scored 344 runs against Gambia, setting the highest team total in both international and recognized T20s. But today, Baroda shattered that record. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Baroda posted a massive 349/5 against Sikkim in Indore, rewriting the history books.
Baroda’s batters didn’t just break the team total record; they also smashed Zimbabwe’s record for most sixes in an innings. While Zimbabwe hit 27 sixes in their 344-run performance, Baroda’s batters hammered an incredible 37 sixes.
The carnage began with an explosive opening partnership, as Shashwat Rawat (43 off 16) and Abhimanyusingh Rajput (53 off 17) powered Baroda to 92 runs in just 5 overs. Building on this fiery start, Bhanu Pania, Shivalik Sharma, and Vishnu Solanki unleashed absolute mayhem. Pania remained unbeaten on 134 off 51 balls, smashing 15 sixes. Shivalik scored 55 off 17 balls with 6 sixes, and Solanki added 50 off 16 balls, also with 6 sixes.
In reply, Sikkim could only manage 86/7 in 20 overs, losing by a staggering 263 runs. This victory marked the fourth-largest margin in recognized T20 cricket in terms of runs.
In another match of the day, Punjab’s Abhishek Sharma tied the record for the fastest T20 century by an Indian, scoring a 28-ball hundred against Meghalaya. Just last week, Urvil Patel of Gujarat had achieved the same feat against Tripura in the same tournament. Across recognized T20s, only Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan has scored a quicker century, reaching the milestone in 27 balls against Cyprus earlier this year.
Abhishek, playing in Rajkot, smashed 11 sixes and 8 fours in his unbeaten 106 off 29 balls, helping Punjab chase down Meghalaya’s 142/7 target in just 9.3 overs with seven wickets to spare.
