'Test match on steroids': India shatter record for fastest fifty in Test cricket; explore the 5 quickest team half-centuries of all time

India made history in Test cricket by registering the fastest-ever half-century, achieved off just 18 balls by Rohit Sharma's team during their dominating performance against Bangladesh on Day 4 of the 2nd Test in Kanpur. With Days 2 and 3 being washed out, India, realizing the significance of points in the World Test Championship, came out with a vengeance. They swiftly bowled out Bangladesh for 233 in a little over a session and then sprinted to 53 runs without losing any wickets in just three overs, sending the Green Park crowd into a frenzy with their explosive display.

Yashasvi Jaiswal began the onslaught, creaming a hat-trick of boundaries in the first over off over bowled by Hasan Mahmud, before the skipper took strike. And the first ball he faced, Rohit launched pacer Khaled Ahmed over long off. The distance on the ball was so much that it landed in one of the 'shamiyanas'; the ball remained there for a bit, causing a temporary halt in play before it was finally retrieved. of that mattered to Rohit though, as he plunged into the next delivery, unleashing his famous pull shot for a second consecutive six. Jaiswal finished the over with his fourth boundary of the innings.

The third over began with a bit of drama. Rohit inside edged the ball, but Bangladesh, to the surprise of the onlookers decided against the DRS despite showing some interest. This spurred Rohit, to the extent that he bludgeoned the next ball, clearing long on comfortably. From there, it was Jaiswal's turn to take over as he went six, four, four to make it 22 off the over. With that India got to rewrite the record books, surpassing the previous best record held by England (26 balls) against West Indies. India now also hold the record for most sixes (91) struck by a team in a calendar year.

"This is not just Test cricket. This is Test match on steroids," exclaimed Dinesh Karthik on air.

3.0 overs (18 balls) - India vs BAN, 2024*

4.2 overs (26 balls) – England vs WI, 2024

4.3 overs (27 balls) - England vs SA, 1994

5.0 overs (30 balls) - England vs SL, 2002

5.2 overs (32 balls) - Sri Lanka vs PAK, 2004

Rohit perished shortly after but that didn't stop Jaiswal from leaving Bangladesh shellshocked. Jaiswal reached his half-centuries off just 31 balls, three deliveries behind Rishabh Pant. As their batting juggernaut continued, India also brought up their 100 off 10.1 overs, surpassing their previous best of getting there in 12.2 overs.