Fastest Century in Cricket History: Record, Player, Balls & Stats
Abhishek Sharma is one of the recent batters to make headlines with a remarkable century in T20 international cricket. He scored his hundred from just 37 balls for India against England, producing a powerful innings filled with boundaries and sixes. The knock showed how quickly a modern T20 batter can change a match and became one of the fastest centuries in men's T20 international cricket.
However, the phrase “fastest century in cricket history” can mean different things depending on the format and level of cricket. Records for T20 cricket, T20 internationals, ODIs, Tests, and domestic or franchise matches are not the same. For this reason, the record should always be discussed with its format and competition clearly mentioned. In the sections below, we will look at the fastest century records, the number of balls taken, the players involved, and the key statistics behind these remarkable innings.
What Is the Fastest Century in Cricket History and Who Holds It?
The fastest century depends on the type of cricket being discussed. In men’s T20 international cricket, one of the most remarkable recent records belongs to Abhishek Sharma, who scored a century from just 37 balls for India against England in 2025. His innings included 5 fours and 13 sixes, giving him a strike rate of more than 300. It was a powerful display of aggressive T20 batting and placed his name among the fastest century-makers in the international format.
It is important not to treat every fastest century record as the same. T20Is, ODIs, Tests, domestic cricket, and franchise tournaments have separate records, and the fastest century in one format may not be the fastest in another. Throughout this article, we will identify the format and competition with each record so that the numbers remain clear and easy to understand.
Who Scored the Fastest Century in Cricket History?
Chris Gayle holds the famous record for the fastest century in a top-level T20 match, reaching 100 runs from just 30 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in the 2013 IPL. His innings included 13 sixes and 7 fours, giving him a strike rate of more than 300.
Ye record ko format ke context ke saath explain karna zaroori hai, kyun ke “fastest century in cricket history” ka answer competition aur format ke hisaab se change ho sakta hai. For example, Abhishek Sharma ka 37-ball T20I century ek alag international-record context mein important hai, lekin woh overall fastest century nahi hai.
Fastest Century in Cricket History Record: Complete Match Details
Chris Gayle ne 23 April 2013 ko IPL mein Royal Challengers Bangalore ke liye Pune Warriors India ke khilaf sirf 30 balls par century complete ki. Unhon ne us innings mein 175 not out from 66 balls banaye, jo T20 cricket ki sab se memorable attacking innings mein se ek hai. Gayle ne apni century ke liye 13 sixes aur 11 fours lagaye aur innings ka strike rate 265.15 raha.
| Match Detail | Record |
|---|---|
| Player | Chris Gayle |
| Team | Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| Opponent | Pune Warriors India |
| Date | 23 April 2013 |
| Competition | Indian Premier League |
| Venue | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Total Score | 175* |
| Balls Faced | 66 |
| Century | 30 balls |
| Fours | 13 |
| Sixes | 17 |
| Strike Rate | 265.15 |
How Many Balls Did the Fastest Century in Cricket Take?
The fastest century in a top-level T20 match was scored by Chris Gayle in just 30 balls. He reached 100 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in the 2013 IPL. Gayle started his century with powerful hitting and reached the landmark with a six, making his 30-ball hundred one of the most famous records in T20 cricket.
Gayle finished the innings with an unbeaten 175 runs from 66 balls. His century included 13 fours and 17 sixes, and he scored at a strike rate of 265.15. The 30-ball century remains an important benchmark when discussing the fastest centuries in top-level cricket.
Fastest Century Record by Balls Faced
Chris Gayle reached his century in just 30 balls, making it one of the fastest centuries ever recorded in top-level cricket. He achieved this record while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in the 2013 IPL. Gayle reached 100 with a six and continued his innings to an unbeaten 175 from 66 balls.
His 30-ball century came from a remarkable combination of boundaries. Gayle hit 11 fours and 9 sixes by the time he reached 100, and he later finished the innings with 13 fours and 17 sixes. The record shows just how quickly a batter can turn an innings around in T20 cricket.
Fastest Century in Cricket: Runs, Fours, Sixes and Strike Rate
Chris Gayle's famous 30-ball century came during his incredible innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in the 2013 IPL. He did not stop after reaching 100 and finished with an unbeaten 175 runs from 66 balls. His innings included 13 fours and 17 sixes, showing how much of his scoring came through boundaries.
| Batting Stat | Chris Gayle's Record Innings |
|---|---|
| Runs | 175* |
| Balls | 66 |
| Fours | 13 |
| Sixes | 17 |
| Strike Rate | 265.15 |
| Century | 30 balls |
Gayle's 175* remains one of the most remarkable T20 innings because he scored at a strike rate of 265.15. His 17 sixes alone contributed 102 runs, while his 13 fours added another 52 runs. The combination of power hitting, a huge number of boundaries, and very few dot balls helped him reach his century in only 30 deliveries.
Fastest Century Records in ODI, T20 and Test Cricket
Fastest century records are different in each international format. In ODI cricket, AB de Villiers holds the record with a 31-ball century for South Africa against West Indies in 2015. In T20I cricket, Sahil Chauhan holds the overall men’s record with a 27-ball century for Estonia against Cyprus in 2024. In Test cricket, Brendon McCullum holds the record after reaching his century from 54 balls for New Zealand against Australia in 2016.
| Format | Player | Team | Balls | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 31 | West Indies |
| T20I | Sahil Chauhan | Estonia | 27 | Cyprus |
| Test | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 54 | Australia |
These records show how differently batters have reached 100 across the three formats. The 27-ball T20I century is the fastest of the three, followed by the 31-ball ODI century and the 54-ball Test century.
Fastest Century Records in ODI and T20 Cricket
AB de Villiers holds the record for the fastest century in ODI cricket, reaching 100 from just 31 balls for South Africa against West Indies in 2015. In T20I cricket, Sahil Chauhan holds the overall men’s record with a 27-ball century for Estonia against Cyprus in 2024.
Abhishek Sharma’s 30-ball century against Afghanistan in 2026 is the third-fastest men’s T20I century overall and the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter. This puts his record behind Sahil Chauhan’s 27-ball century and Muhammad Fahad’s 29-ball century.
| Format | Player | Team | Balls | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 31 | West Indies | 2015 |
| T20I | Sahil Chauhan | Estonia | 27 | Cyprus | 2024 |
| T20I | Muhammad Fahad | Turkey | 29 | Bulgaria | 2025 |
| T20I | Abhishek Sharma | India | 30 | Afghanistan | 2026 |
Abhishek Sharma's Latest T20I Century Record and How It Compares
Abhishek Sharma’s latest T20I century came against Afghanistan on September 17, 2026. He reached 100 from just 30 balls, making it the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter and the third-fastest men’s T20I century overall. He scored 108 from 34 balls with 9 fours and 11 sixes.
Before Abhishek, Rohit Sharma held India’s fastest T20I century record with a 35-ball hundred against Sri Lanka in 2017. Abhishek also moved ahead of the previous Full-Member record of 33 balls, shared by Sikandar Raza and Finn Allen. Overall, Sahil Chauhan remains first with 27 balls, followed by Muhammad Fahad with 29 balls.
Top Fastest Centuries in Cricket History by Balls Faced and Format
Fast centuries can look very different across cricket formats, so comparing them by balls faced gives a clearer picture of how quickly a batter reached 100. Chris Gayle's 30-ball century for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2013 IPL remains a famous benchmark in T20 cricket, while AB de Villiers reached an ODI century in 31 balls against West Indies in the 2015 World Cup. In Test cricket, Brendon McCullum's 54-ball century against Australia in 2016 is the men's record.
| Format | Player | Balls to 100 | Team | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20 | Chris Gayle | 30 | RCB | Pune Warriors India |
| ODI | AB de Villiers | 31 | South Africa | West Indies |
| Test | Brendon McCullum | 54 | New Zealand | Australia |
These records show why the format matters when discussing the fastest century. A franchise T20 record should not be presented as an ODI or international record. For a current article, each record should also be checked against the latest official scorecards because new centuries can change format-specific records over time.
Which Players Have Scored Multiple Fast Centuries?
Several batters have scored more than one century at an exceptionally fast rate, especially in T20 cricket. Chris Gayle is one of the most notable examples, with multiple T20 centuries scored at a very high strike rate. His most famous innings came in the 2013 IPL, when he reached 100 runs from just 30 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India.
Other aggressive batters, including Rohit Sharma, David Miller and AB de Villiers, have also produced multiple rapid centuries across T20 and ODI cricket. Their innings show that scoring a century quickly is not only about one record-breaking performance; some batters have repeatedly combined boundary hitting, strike rotation and aggressive shot selection to reach 100 runs in a short number of balls.
Fastest Century in ODI Cricket History: Record and Full Stats
AB de Villiers holds the record for the fastest century in men’s ODI cricket. He reached 100 runs from just 31 balls for South Africa against the West Indies during the 2015 Cricket World Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground. His explosive innings helped South Africa post 408/5 in 50 overs.
De Villiers eventually finished with 150 runs from 64 balls, including 9 fours and 16 sixes, at a strike rate of 234.37. His 31-ball century remains one of the most remarkable individual batting performances in ODI cricket and is widely remembered for the speed at which he converted his innings from a quick start into a record-breaking hundred.
Fastest ODI Century by Balls, Runs and Strike Rate
AB de Villiers holds the fastest century record in men’s ODI cricket, reaching 100 runs in just 31 balls against the West Indies at the 2015 Cricket World Cup. He continued his attack after reaching the century and finished the innings with 150 runs from 64 balls.
His final score included 9 fours and 16 sixes, giving him a remarkable strike rate of 234.37. The innings was built around powerful boundary hitting, with 132 of his 150 runs coming from fours and sixes. His 31-ball century remains the benchmark for the fastest ODI hundred in men’s international cricket.
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Player | AB de Villiers |
| Opponent | West Indies |
| Century | 100 runs |
| Balls to 100 | 31 |
| Final Score | 150 runs |
| Balls Faced | 64 |
| Fours | 9 |
| Sixes | 16 |
| Strike Rate | 234.37 |
| Match | 2015 Cricket World Cup |
| Venue | Sydney Cricket Ground |
Fastest Century in T20 Cricket History: Record, Player and Balls
Sahil Chauhan holds the record for the fastest century in men’s T20I cricket. He scored 100 runs from just 27 balls for Estonia against Cyprus in 2024. Muhammad Fahad is second with a 29-ball century for Turkey against Bulgaria in 2025.
Abhishek Sharma is third on the overall list after scoring a 30-ball century for India against Afghanistan in 2026. His century is the fastest T20I hundred by an Indian batter and the fastest by a batter from a Full-Member nation.
| Player | Team | Balls | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sahil Chauhan | Estonia | 27 | Cyprus | 2024 |
| Muhammad Fahad | Turkey | 29 | Bulgaria | 2025 |
| Abhishek Sharma | India | 30 | Afghanistan | 2026 |
Fastest T20 Century Match and Batting Statistics
Abhishek Sharma scored the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter in the third T20I against Afghanistan in Delhi on September 17, 2026. He reached 100 runs in just 30 balls and finished with 108 runs from 34 balls, including 9 fours and 11 sixes.
| Batting Statistic | Abhishek Sharma |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs Afghanistan, 3rd T20I |
| Venue | New Delhi |
| Runs | 108 |
| Balls Faced | 34 |
| Balls to Century | 30 |
| Fours | 9 |
| Sixes | 11 |
| Strike Rate | 317.64 |
Abhishek reached his 50 in 16 balls and then completed his century in the ninth over. His 30-ball hundred became the third-fastest men’s T20I century overall, behind Sahil Chauhan’s 27-ball century and Muhammad Fahad’s 29-ball century.
Fastest Century in International Cricket: ODI, T20I and Test Records
The fastest century records in international cricket are held by different players in ODI, T20I and Test cricket. In ODI cricket, AB de Villiers holds the record with a 31-ball century for South Africa against West Indies in 2015. In T20I cricket, Sahil Chauhan holds the men’s record with a 27-ball century for Estonia against Cyprus in 2024. In Test cricket, Brendon McCullum holds the record with a 54-ball century for New Zealand against Australia in 2016. Get more all latest news through CricCatch
| Format | Player | Team | Balls | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 31 | West Indies | 2015 |
| T20I | Sahil Chauhan | Estonia | 27 | Cyprus | 2024 |
| Test | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 54 | Australia | 2016 |
Abhishek Sharma’s 30-ball T20I century against Afghanistan in 2026 is currently the third-fastest men’s T20I century overall. It is also the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter.
How Does the International Record Compare Across Formats?
The fastest century records are different across ODI, T20I and Test cricket because each format has a different style of batting. AB de Villiers holds the ODI record with a 31-ball century, while Sahil Chauhan holds the men’s T20I record with a 27-ball century. In Test cricket, centuries usually take much longer because batters have more time to build their innings.
| Format | Record Holder | Balls to 100 |
|---|---|---|
| ODI | AB de Villiers | 31 |
| T20I | Sahil Chauhan | 27 |
| Test | Brendon McCullum | 54 |
Abhishek Sharma’s 30-ball T20I century against Afghanistan is currently the third-fastest men’s T20I century overall. It is also the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter, placing his record between the 27-ball T20I record and the 31-ball ODI record.
Is the Fastest Century Cricket Record Still Unbeaten Today?
Yes, the fastest men’s T20I century record is still unbeaten. Sahil Chauhan holds the record after scoring 100 runs from just 27 balls for Estonia against Cyprus in 2024. Muhammad Fahad is second with a 29-ball century, while Abhishek Sharma is third after his 30-ball century against Afghanistan in 2026.
Abhishek Sharma’s 30-ball century did break the Indian T20I record, which was previously held by Rohit Sharma with a 35-ball century. However, it did not break the overall men’s T20I record because Sahil Chauhan’s 27-ball century remains the fastest.
Current Status of the Fastest Century Record
The current record for the fastest men’s T20I century is held by Sahil Chauhan, who scored 100 runs from just 27 balls for Estonia against Cyprus in 2024. This record still stands today. Muhammad Fahad is second with a 29-ball century, while Abhishek Sharma is third after scoring a 30-ball century for India against Afghanistan in 2026.
Abhishek Sharma’s 30-ball century became the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter and broke India’s previous record of 35 balls, held by Rohit Sharma. However, Sahil Chauhan’s 27-ball record remains the overall fastest men’s T20I century.
FAQs:
Who scored the fastest century in cricket history?
Chris Gayle scored the fastest century in top-level T20 cricket, reaching 100 in just 30 balls for RCB against Pune Warriors India in the 2013 IPL.
How many balls did the fastest cricket century take?
The fastest century in top-level T20 cricket took just 30 balls, scored by Chris Gayle in the 2013 IPL.
What is the fastest century in ODI cricket history?
AB de Villiers holds the fastest ODI century record, reaching 100 in just 31 balls against the West Indies in the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
What is the fastest century in T20 cricket history?
Chris Gayle holds the famous 30-ball record in top-level T20 cricket, achieved for RCB against Pune Warriors India in the 2013 IPL.
What is the fastest century in Test cricket history?
Brendon McCullum holds the fastest Test century record, reaching 100 in 54 balls against Australia in 2016.
Is the fastest cricket century an international record?
No. The overall 30-ball record was achieved in the IPL, a franchise T20 competition. International records are tracked separately for ODI, T20I and Test cricket.
Who scored the fastest 100 in international cricket?
For men’s international cricket, the record depends on the format. AB de Villiers holds the ODI record with a 31-ball century, while Test records are separate.
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