5 Fastest ODI Fifties By The Indian Batsmen
Aug 24, 2020 at 11:35 AM
Indian cricket is famously known for its batting as many Indian batsmen have registered many records in international cricket history. There are some Indian batsmen who are famous to regularly perform fast batting, especially in the limited-overs cricket.
While we have seen many fastest ODI fifties, which mostly happened in less than 25 balls, some Indian batsmen are also in this list.
Here we are talking about the top five fastest ODI fifties by the Indian batsmen.
Yuvraj Singh – 22 balls (against Bangladesh in 2004)
The former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh was a stylish left-handed batsman who played many pivotal roles with the bat for his national team during his best period. Here we are talking about Yuvraj’s fastest ODI fifty which was against Bangladesh at Dhaka on 27th December 2004.
In this series-decider game, the visitors batted first and got good starts. While the top-orders played successful knocks, Yuvraj finished that very well. Coming to bat at no.6 in the 42nd over of that first innings, Yuvraj completed his half-century in just 22 balls and scored 69 runs off 32 balls (8 fours and 3 sixes).
India won that match by 91 runs and clinched that three-match ODI series by the 2-1 margin. In this ODI, while they scored 348/5 (50 overs), the hosts were restricted to 257/9 (50 overs).
Rahul Dravid – 22 balls (against New Zealand in 2003)
In his long international career, Rahul Dravid had the great reputation of unbelievable patience batting. But during this ODI, which was the last game of the home ODI tri-series against New Zealand at Hyderabad (Deccan) on 15th November 2003, Dravid stunned everyone with his firing batting.
After the hosts decided to bat first, Indian openers (Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar) started powerfully by setting up the 182 runs partnership for the opening wicket. When Dravid came to bat in the fifth position, it was 44th over, and he decided to charge the Kiwi bowlers. The right-handed batsman scored the 22-ball fifty which completed on the final ball of that innings as he was not out on 50 runs off 22 balls (5 fours and 3 sixes).
While India scored the mammoth total of 353/5 (50 overs), they won by 145 runs after bundling out New Zealand by 208 runs (47 overs).
Virender Sehwag – 22 balls (against Kenya in 2001)
The former right-handed batsman Virender Sehwag was famous for his aggressive batting, and we are not stunned to see him on this list. It was the match against Kenya at Paarl in the Standard Bank Triangular Tournament on 24th October 2001.
After the Indian captain, Sourav Ganguly decided to bat first, the skipper and Sachin Tendulkar built the massive opening partnership of 258 runs. Sehwag came to bat after the opening partnership was broken in the 42nd over, and the right-handed batsman successfully took up the next role. He scored a 22-ball fifty and remained not out on 55 runs off 23 balls with seven fours and three sixes.
India set the target of 352 runs (351/3 in 50 overs), and then, they restricted Kenya to 165/5 (50 overs) in the second innings.
Kapil Dev – 22 balls (against West Indies in 1983)
The former Indian World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev was one of the greatest all-rounders in international cricket history. It was the match against West Indies at Albion on 29th March 1983, which was reduced to 47 overs per side.
After the top-orders provided a good start for the Indian team in the first innings of this match, skipper Kapil Dev took the charge for his team perfectly. The right-handed batsman recorded the 22-ball fifty, which became the second-fastest ODI fifty at that time. Dev scored 72 runs off just 38 balls (7 fours and 3 sixes), while the visiting side scored 282/5 (47 overs).
In reply, West Indies scored 255/9 (47 overs) as India won that match by 27 runs.
Ajit Agarkar – 21 balls (against Zimbabwe in 2000)
Yes! Ajit Agarkar, who was majorly famous for his bowling, is leading this special list. It was the Rajkot ODI against Zimbabwe on 14th December 2000 when Agarkar’s batting played a powerful role for India’s victory. As a batsman, Agarkar was an entertainer, and this match was one of the best examples of this claim.
During this game, when the first batting side India were struggling on 216/6, the lower-order batsmen Reetinder Sodhi and Agarkar played the important roles for the hosts. Agarkar registered the 21-ball half-century and remained not out on 67 off 25 balls (7 fours and 4 sixes). Sodhi also scored 53 not out off 67 balls (4 fours and only six) and India managed to score 301/6 (50 overs).
In reply, Zimbabwe was bundled out for 262 runs (47.4 overs) and India won by 39 runs.
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