by Cricket has always celebrated centuries. A hundred runs represents mastery, endurance, and skill.
But T20 cricket flipped that idea completely on its head. Here, a century isn’t about patience – it’s about pure, unfiltered aggression.
Imagine facing 100 balls to score 100 runs. That’s decent in Test cricket. Now imagine doing it in just 27 balls.
Sounds impossible? It happened. And not just once, multiple batsmen have achieved breathtaking fastest century in T20 cricket history milestones that left crowds stunned, and bowlers traumatized.
T20 cricket has changed how we think about batting. Boundaries aren’t bonuses anymore—they’re expectations.
Sixes aren’t celebrations, they’re strategies. And when a batsman gets going, the cricket field transforms into a demolition zone where records fall faster than wickets.
What makes these centuries special isn’t just the speed. It’s the audacity. The fearlessness.
The willingness to swing hard, even when one mistake could end your innings. These batsmen don’t just play cricket—they rewrite its rules with every strike.
From international matches to franchise leagues, from established stars to unknown heroes from associate nations, the race for the fastest century has produced some of the most electrifying moments in cricket history.
Some names you’ll recognize immediately. Others might surprise you. But every single inning on this list tells a story worth remembering.
Fastest Century in T20 Cricket History
Let’s dive into the world of explosive batting, where every ball counts and every boundary brings history closer.
Top Fastest Centuries in T20 Cricket (All Formats)
Here’s the complete picture of batting violence across all T20 formats:
| Player | Balls | Format | Opponent | Year | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sahil Chauhan | 27 | T20I | Cyprus | 2024 | Also hit 18 sixes, matching Chris Gayle’s record |
| Chris Gayle | 30 | IPL | Pune Warriors | 2013 | Part of an unbeaten 175, the highest T20 score |
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | 32 | Domestic T20 | UAE | 2025 | Rising Indian talent, India A match |
| Rishabh Pant | 32 | IPL | Sunrisers | 2018 | Explosive left-hander for Delhi Capitals |
| Wihan Lubbe | 33 | Domestic SA | Knights | 2017 | CSA T20 Challenge devastation |
| Kushal Malla | 34 | T20I | Mongolia | 2023 | Nepal’s teenage sensation |
| David Miller | 35 | T20I | Bangladesh | 2017 | South African power-hitting masterclass |
| Rohit Sharma | 35 | T20I | Sri Lanka | 2017 | Indian captain’s timing perfection |
| Yusuf Pathan | 37 | IPL | RCB | 2010 | Rajasthan Royals legend |
| Glenn Maxwell | 38 | BBL | Melbourne Stars | 2014 | Big Show is living up to his nickname |
This table shows something fascinating: the fastest century in T20 cricket comes from unexpected places. Not always from cricket’s traditional powerhouses, but from players who dared to dream big.
Top 10 Fastest Century in T20 International Cricket History
Sahil Chauhan 27 Ball Century: The Record That Shocked Cricket
June 2024. Most cricket fans had never heard of Sahil Chauhan. By the end of the day, his name was trending worldwide.
Playing for Estonia against Cyprus in a bilateral T20I series, Chauhan didn’t just break the record—he demolished it. His 27-ball century is now the fastest century in T20I cricket and the fastest across all T20 formats globally.
The Innings Breakdown:
- Final Score: 144 not out off 41 balls
- Sixes Hit: 18 (equaling Chris Gayle’s record)
- Strike Rate: 351.22
- Match Result: Estonia won by 6 wickets
What makes this knock even more remarkable? Chauhan scored a duck in the first match earlier that same day. Talk about bouncing back.
Cyprus posted 201/7, thinking they had enough runs. Chauhan had other plans. He turned cricket into a batting exhibition where bowlers looked helpless, and fielders became spectators.
The Sahil Chauhan 27 ball century taught us that records can come from anywhere. Cricket’s beauty lies in these unexpected moments when someone you’ve never heard of produces something unforgettable.
Chris Gayle 30 Ball Century: The IPL Legend That Still Stands
April 23, 2013. Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium. Royal Challengers Bangalore versus Pune Warriors India. What happened next became cricket folklore.
Chris Gayle walked in and proceeded to treat cricket like a video game on easy mode. His Chris Gayle 30 ball century remains the fastest century in IPL history and the fastest in any major T20 league globally.
The Numbers That Tell the Story:
| Milestone | Balls Faced |
|---|---|
| 50 runs | 17 balls |
| 100 runs | 30 balls |
| 150 runs | 52 balls |
| Final Score | 175* off 66 balls |
Key Stats:
- Sixes: 17 (IPL record for single innings)
- Fours: 13
- Strike Rate: 265.15
- Runs Off Last 5 Overs: 78
This wasn’t just batting. This was carnage. Gayle hit sixes so effortlessly that commentators ran out of adjectives. The Universe Boss earned his nickname that day, turning professional bowlers into bowling machine operators.
What separates Gayle’s century from others? Context. This happened in the IPL—cricket’s most competitive T20 league. Against quality bowlers. Under pressure. And he still made it look ridiculously easy.
The Chris Gayle 30 ball century set a benchmark that’s stood for over a decade. Many have tried. All have failed.
Indian Players Who Made T20 Centuries Look Easy
India has produced some fearsome T20 batsmen. Here’s how Indian stars stack up in the fastest century in t20 cricket race:
Rohit Sharma: Timing Over Power
Rohit’s 35-ball century against Sri Lanka in 2017 showed you don’t need brute force. His timing is so pure that balls travel to boundaries seemingly on their own.
Rohit’s Century Stats:
- Balls Faced: 35
- Sixes: 5
- Fours: 12
- Strike Rate: 285.71
Rishabh Pant: Left-Handed Destruction
The young Delhi Capitals wicketkeeper-batsman smashed a 32-ball hundred in IPL 2018. At just 20 years old, Pant announced his arrival with thunder.
Yusuf Pathan: The Original IPL Exploder
Before Gayle rewrote the record books, Yusuf Pathan’s 37-ball century for the Rajasthan Royals in 2010 was the gold standard. His power-hitting changed how teams viewed finishers.
KL Rahul: Elegance Meets Brutality
Rahul’s 46-ball century might not be the fastest, but watching him combine textbook shots with innovative strokes is batting poetry.
Indian Fastest T20 Centuries Comparison:
| Player | Balls | Format | Year | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rishabh Pant | 32 | IPL | 2018 | 312.50 |
| Rohit Sharma | 35 | T20I | 2017 | 285.71 |
| Yusuf Pathan | 37 | IPL | 2010 | 270.27 |
| KL Rahul | 46 | IPL | 2018 | 217.39 |
Vaibhav Suryavanshi 32 Ball Century: India’s Next Big Thing
Cricket keeps producing prodigies, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi is the latest sensation. His Vaibhav Suryavanshi 32 ball century for India A against UAE in 2025 announced a new batting talent.
At just 13 years old, Suryavanshi became the youngest player to score a T20 century at a professional level. His innings featured:
- Clean hitting straight down the ground
- Fearless approach against experienced bowlers
- Natural timing that can’t be coached
Scouts immediately took notice. IPL franchises started watching. Cricket fans got excited about India’s future batting lineup.
The fastest century in t20 race just got a new contender who might rewrite the record books for decades.
T20 League Records: Where Franchise Cricket Breeds Fearlessness
Franchise T20 leagues have become laboratories for aggressive batting. Players feel free to attack without fear of dropping from national teams.
Fastest Centuries in Major T20 Leagues:
| League | Player | Balls | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| IPL (India) | Chris Gayle | 30 | 2013 |
| BBL (Australia) | Glenn Maxwell | 38 | 2014 |
| PSL (Pakistan) | Umar Akmal | 40 | 2020 |
| CPL (Caribbean) | Andre Russell | 40 | 2018 |
| SA T20 | Wihan Lubbe | 33 | 2017 |
The IPL tops this list not by accident. Indian pitches reward clean striking. Smaller boundaries help. And the tournament attracts the world’s best power-hitters.
The Science Behind Scoring Hundreds at Lightning Speed
Fast centuries aren’t luck. They’re engineering—a perfect combination of skill, strategy, and fearlessness.
Key Elements:
- Bat Technology: Modern bats have bigger sweet spots and thicker edges. Mishits travel for sixes now.
- Pitch Conditions: Flat tracks with true bounce allow batsmen to trust their shots.
- Field Restrictions: Powerplay overs (first 6) allow only 2 fielders outside the circle—prime attacking time.
- Mental Approach: These batsmen don’t calculate. They react. Their minds work faster than analysis.
- Shot Innovation: Scoops, ramps, switch-hits, reverse sweeps—modern batsmen have doubled their scoring zones.
Scoring Zones Analysis:
| Area | Traditional Batting | Modern T20 Batting |
|---|---|---|
| Straight | 15% runs | 30% runs |
| Leg Side | 40% runs | 35% runs |
| Off Side | 45% runs | 35% runs |
Notice how straight hitting has increased? That’s because hitting straight is lower risk but high reward when you’re timing the ball well.
Fastest Century in Domestic T20 Cricket: Hidden Gems
International cricket gets headlines, but domestic T20 tournaments produce equally stunning centuries.
Domestic T20 Record-Breakers:
- Wihan Lubbe (South Africa): 33 balls in CSA T20 Challenge
- Graham Napier (England): 44 balls in T20 Blast
- Rohit Sharma (India): 35 balls in Deodhar Trophy
- Chris Lynn (Australia): 39 balls in Sheffield Shield T20
These innings matter because they show that talent exists everywhere. Not every great innings happens under TV cameras or in packed stadiums.
Top 10 Fastest Centuries in T20 Cricket: The Complete List
Here’s the definitive ranking across all formats:
| Rank | Player | Balls | Format | Match | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sahil Chauhan | 27 | T20I | Estonia vs Cyprus | 2024 |
| 2 | Chris Gayle | 30 | IPL | RCB vs Pune | 2013 |
| 3 | Vaibhav Suryavanshi | 32 | Domestic | India A vs UAE | 2025 |
| 3 | Rishabh Pant | 32 | IPL | DC vs SRH | 2018 |
| 5 | Wihan Lubbe | 33 | Domestic SA | Warriors vs Knights | 2017 |
| 6 | Kushal Malla | 34 | T20I | Nepal vs Mongolia | 2023 |
| 7 | David Miller | 35 | T20I | SA vs Bangladesh | 2017 |
| 7 | Rohit Sharma | 35 | T20I | India vs Sri Lanka | 2017 |
| 9 | Yusuf Pathan | 37 | IPL | RR vs RCB | 2010 |
| 10 | Glenn Maxwell | 38 | BBL | Melbourne Stars | 2014 |
This list shows how the fastest century in T20 cricket history keeps evolving. Every year brings new contenders.
Why T20 World Cups Haven’t Seen Sub-40 Ball Centuries?
Here’s something interesting: despite all the hitting, no one has scored a century faster than 50 balls in T20 World Cups.
Reasons:
- Higher Pressure: World Cup nerves affect even the best
- Quality Bowling: Top nations bring their best bowlers
- Better Field Placements: Captains set defensive fields
- Pitch Variety: World Cups happen across different countries with varying conditions
Fastest T20 World Cup Centuries:
- Chris Gayle: 50 balls vs England (2016)
- Brendon McCullum: 51 balls vs Canada (2007)
- Ahmed Shehzad: 54 balls vs Bangladesh (2014)
Still explosive, but the World Cup pressure slows even the fastest hitters down.
Future of Fast Centuries: Who’s Next?
Cricket keeps producing fearless hitters. Who might break into the top 10 fastest centuries in T20 next?
Contenders to Watch:
- Suryakumar Yadav (India): His 360-degree game makes him dangerous
- Tim David (Australia/Singapore): Pure power-hitting specialist
- Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa): Recent form suggests something big is coming
- Nicholas Pooran (West Indies): Left-handed explosiveness
- Phil Salt (England): Aggressive opener with no fear
With T10 cricket gaining popularity and batting getting more aggressive, the 25-ball century might not be far away.
FAQs
- Who holds the fastest century in T20 cricket across all formats?
Sahil Chauhan from Estonia scored a century off just 27 balls against Cyprus in June 2024. This is the fastest across all T20 formats, including internationals, leagues, and domestic cricket.
- What is Chris Gayle’s fastest century record?
Chris Gayle’s 30-ball century for RCB against Pune Warriors in IPL 2013 remains the fastest in any major T20 league. He went on to score 175 not out, the highest individual T20 score ever.
- Has any Indian scored a century faster than 35 balls in T20?
Yes, Rishabh Pant scored a 32-ball century in IPL 2018 for Delhi Capitals. Vaibhav Suryavanshi also achieved a 32-ball hundred in 2025, making them India’s fastest T20 centurion.
- Why hasn’t anyone scored a fast century in the T20 World Cups?
World Cup pressure, quality opposition bowling, and defensive field placements make ultra-fast centuries rare. The fastest T20 World Cup century is Chris Gayle’s 50-ball hundred, showing even the best scan low down under tournament pressure.
- What makes a batsman capable of scoring fast centuries?
A combination of a fearless mindset, excellent hand-eye coordination, a powerful physique, innovative shot selection, and the ability to read bowlers quickly. Modern bat technology and flat pitches also help batsmen score faster than previous generations.
- Can Sahil Chauhan’s 27-ball record be broken?
Absolutely. As T20 cricket evolves with better training, advanced equipment, and more fearless young players, someone will eventually break this record. Cricket history shows records are made to be broken, and the 25-ball or even 23-ball century might not be far away.
Conclusion: Speed, Power, and Cricket’s Evolution
The fastest century in T20 cricket history represents more than just quick scoring.
It symbolizes cricket’s transformation from a gentleman’s game to a gladiatorial spectacle.
Every record on this list tells a story—of courage, skill, and the relentless pursuit of batting perfection.
From Sahil Chauhan’s unexpected heroics to Chris Gayle’s legendary IPL masterpiece, these innings prove that in T20 cricket, anything is possible.
The next record-breaking century could happen tomorrow. Or it might take years.
But when it comes, cricket fans worldwide will stop everything to watch.
Because fast centuries aren’t just statistics—they’re moments that remind us why we fell in love with cricket in the first place.
