The year 2023 wasn’t just another chapter in the cricketing saga; it was a full-blown, boundary-breaking epic. Records were mere stepping stones, legends were rewritten, and new heroes emerged from the shadows […]
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Dec 31, 2023 12:55 pm
Virat Kohli and Dependra Singh Airee (Source – Twitter)
The year 2023 wasn’t just another chapter in the cricketing saga; it was a full-blown, boundary-breaking epic. Records were mere stepping stones, legends were rewritten, and new heroes emerged from the shadows to etch their names onto the sport’s hallowed ground. As the year draws to a close, it is only right to look at some of the biggest record-breaking feats of the year.
Here’s a look at 5 of the biggest records in International Cricket that were broken in 2023:
#5 Quickest half-century in the history of T20 Internationals
Devendra Airee
Nepal’s Dependra Singh Airee etched his name in cricket history, obliterating Yuvraj Singh’s 16-year-old record for the fastest T20I fifty. During the Asian Games against Mongolia, Airee unleashed a brutal assault, reaching the half-century mark in a mere 9 balls. Yuvraj’s previous record of 12 balls stood since 2007, making Airee’s feat even more remarkable.
His innings, studded with 8 sixes, contributed to Nepal’s mammoth total of 314/3, the highest ever in a T20I. In a day of record-breaking, Airee’s lightning knock cemented his place in the cricket’s Hall of Fame, leaving fans worldwide in awe.
#4 Quickest hundred in the history of T20 Internationals
Kushan Malla
19-year-old Nepali sensation Kushal Malla rewrote the record books, etching his name into cricket history with the fastest-ever century in T20 Internationals. Facing Mongolia in the Asian Games, Malla unleashed an absolute maelstrom, reaching the coveted three-figure mark in a mere 34 balls. This stunning feat shattered the previous record of 35 balls, jointly held by cricketing giants David Miller and Rohit Sharma.
It wasn’t just the speed that left the cricketing world aghast; the sheer brutality of Malla’s innings was a spectacle to behold. Boundaries rained down with monotonous regularity, sixes soaring over long-on and fours whistling past point. His left-handed willow sang a symphony of destruction, leaving the Mongolian bowlers bewildered and bamboozled.
#3 Top T20 International score and widest victory margin
The Nepalese batters unleashed hell on Mongolia
Nepal made history in the opening match of the Asian Games 2023, setting the record for the highest team score in T20 Internationals with a massive 314/3. Thanks to outstanding performances by Kushal Malla, Rohit Paudel, and Dipendra Singh Airee, they surpassed Afghanistan’s previous record of 278/3.
In a rewriting of the record books, Nepal kicked off the 2023 Asian Games with a T20 blitz for the ages. Their 314/3 against Mongolia obliterated the previous highest T20I score of 278/3, set by Afghanistan. The Nepali onslaught was a three-man show: Malla’s record-breaking century in just 34 balls, Paudel’s anchoring 79, and Airee’s blistering nine-ball fifty, the fastest ever in T20Is. This historic performance not only sent shockwaves through the cricketing world but also announced Nepal’s arrival as a force to be reckoned with. They set the bar impossibly high, leaving everyone wondering if this record-breaking mountain can ever be conquered.
#2 Highest number of centuries in the history of ODIs
Virat Kohli etched his name in cricket’s pantheon by surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most ODI centuries. His 50th ton came in a stunning performance against New Zealand in the first semi-final of the World Cup, a testament to his unwavering consistency and unmatched batting prowess.
This feat wasn’t just about numbers; it was a chapter on longevity, consistency and sheer domination. India and the cricketing world erupted in celebration, hailing a king who had rewritten the record books.
#1 Top run chase in the history of T20 Internationals
The Proteas completed an emphatic chase against the West Indies
2023 witnessed a mind-blowing feat in the world of T20 cricket! South Africa’s batters redefined chasing, scaling the seemingly insurmountable peak of 259 runs set by the West Indies. This record-breaking run chase, the highest ever in T20 Internationals, unfolded at SuperSport Park in Centurion, South Africa. Openers Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks were the architects of this historic victory.
De Kock smashed a maiden T20I century, racing to 100 runs off just 44 balls, while Hendricks contributed a blistering 68 off 28. Their 152-run opening partnership laid the foundation for the chase, setting the tempo for a relentless assault on the target.
