Sports: Sanju Samson entered the history books as he smashed his maiden T20I century in just 40 balls against Bangladesh on Saturday. The star wicketkeeper batter produced the second-fastest T20I century for India to decimate Bangladeshi bowlers in the third T20I game in Hyderabad.

After failing to impress in the opening two games, the Indian opener displayed his big-hitting skills to justify his selection in the team. India lost Abhishek Sharma early in the powerplay but Samson and captain Suryakumar Yadav decimated Bangladeshi bowlers in a record-laden innings.

Samson took just 22 balls to reach 50 and then achieved his maiden T20I century in just 40 balls, the fastest by an Indian cricketer. Samson also became the only second Indian after Yuvraj Singh and fourth overall in the world to smash five or more consecutive sixes in an over. 

Fastest T20I hundreds for India

1. Rohit Sharma - 35 balls vs Sri Lanka in 2017
2. Sanju Samson - 40 balls vs Bangladesh in 2024
3. Suryakumar Yadav - 45 balls vs Sri Lanka in 2023
4. Abhishek Sharma - 46 balls vs Zimbabwe in 2024
5. Yashasvi Jaiswal - 48 balls vs Nepal in 2023 

Samson registered 11 fours and 8 sixes before being dismissed on 111 runs off 47 balls by Mustafizur Rahman. Suryakumar Yadav also ended his poor run of form by smashing 75 runs off 35 balls India registered his joint-highest powerplay score, their fastest team hundred and the double hundred.

Hardik Pandya smashed 47 off just 18 balls and Riyan Parag added 34 runs as India broke their previous highest team total of 260 and set the second-highest T20I total of 297 for 6. Indian batters produced a record-breaking 22 sixes on their way to a stunning total. 

Highest team totals in T20Is

1. 314/3 by Nepal vs Mongolia in 2023
2. 297/6 by India vs Bangladesh in 2024
3. 278/3 by Afghanistan vs Ireland in 2019
4. 278/4 by Czech Republic vs Turkey in 2019
5. 268/4 by Malaysia vs Thailand, 2023