Cricket has witnessed some of the most explosive batting displays in history, with players smashing centuries in record time. Whether in Test matches, One-Day Internationals (ODIs), or T20s, some batters have redefined the meaning of aggressive cricket. Here’s a look at the fastest centuries across formats and the players who hold these incredible records.
Fastest Century in ODI Cricket
AB de Villiers – 31 Balls (2015, South Africa vs West Indies)
South Africa’s AB de Villiers holds the record for the fastest century in ODIs, reaching his 100 in just 31 balls against West Indies in 2015. His unbelievable stroke play saw him smash 16 sixes and 9 fours, leading South Africa to a massive total.
Top 3 Fastest ODI Centuries:
- AB de Villiers – 31 balls vs West Indies (2015)
- Corey Anderson – 36 balls vs West Indies (2014)
- Shahid Afridi – 37 balls vs Sri Lanka (1996)
Fastest Century in Test Cricket
Brendon McCullum – 54 Balls (2016, New Zealand vs Australia)
New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum holds the record for the fastest Test century, scoring 100 off 54 balls against Australia in 2016. It was his final Test match, making the achievement even more special.
Top 3 Fastest Test Centuries:
- Brendon McCullum – 54 balls vs Australia (2016)
- Viv Richards – 56 balls vs England (1986)
- Misbah-ul-Haq – 56 balls vs Australia (2014)
Fastest Century in T20 Internationals
David Miller & Rohit Sharma – 35 Balls (Joint Record Holders)
- David Miller (South Africa) and Rohit Sharma (India) hold the record for the fastest T20I century, both reaching 100 in 35 balls.
- Miller achieved this feat against Bangladesh in 2017, while Rohit Sharma did it against Sri Lanka in 2017.
Top 3 Fastest T20I Centuries:
- David Miller & Rohit Sharma – 35 balls
- Sudesh Wickramasekara – 35 balls (Czech Republic, 2019)
- Sivakumar Periyalwar – 39 balls (Romania, 2019)
Fastest Century in T20 Cricket (All Formats)
Chris Gayle – 30 Balls (2013, IPL – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Pune Warriors India)
In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2013, Chris Gayle created history by smashing the fastest century in any form of T20 cricket. He reached 100 in just 30 balls, hitting a total of 175 runs in 66 balls.
Top 3 Fastest T20 Hundreds:
- Chris Gayle – 30 balls (IPL 2013)
- Rishabh Pant – 32 balls (Indian domestic T20, 2018)
- Wihan Lubbe – 33 balls (South African T20, 2018)
The Evolution of Fastest Centuries
With the rise of T20 cricket and power-hitting, records are constantly being challenged. Players like AB de Villiers, Rohit Sharma, Brendon McCullum, and Chris Gayle have set benchmarks that future generations will strive to break.
As cricket evolves, who do you think will set the next record-breaking century? Stay tuned for more updates on the fastest and most explosive knocks in cricket history! 🏏🔥