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The achievement of the fastest century in cricket is one that excites cricket fans around the world. This record showcases a batsman's scoring efficiency and skill. Below, I will introduce the fastest century in cricket history across all formats. From AB de Villiers' incredible 31-ball century in ODIs to Sahil Chauhan's record-breaking 27-ball hundred in T20s, let's take a closer look at these outstanding cricketing legends.
| Rank | Player | Runs | Balls | 6s | 4s | Opponent | Venue | Date |
| 1 | AB de Villiers | 149 | 31 | 16 | 9 | West Indies | Johannesburg | 18/01/2015 |
| 2 | Corey Anderson | 131* | 36 | 14 | 6 | West Indies | Queenstown | 01/01/2014 |
| 3 | Shahid Afridi | 102 | 37 | 11 | 6 | Sri Lanka | Nairobi | 04/10/1996 |
| 4 | Glenn Maxwell | 106 | 40 | 8 | 9 | Netherlands | Delhi | 25/10/2023 |
| 5 | Asif Khan | 101* | 41 | 11 | 4 | Nepal | Kirtipur | 16/03/2023 |
| 6 | Mark Boucher | 147* | 44 | 10 | 8 | Zimbabwe | Potchefstroom | 20/09/2006 |
| 7 | Brian Lara | 117 | 45 | 4 | 18 | Bangladesh | Dhaka | 09/10/1999 |
| 8 | Shahid Afridi | 102 | 45 | 9 | 10 | India | Kanpur | 15/04/2005 |
| 9 | Jesse Ryder | 104 | 46 | 5 | 12 | West Indies | Queenstown | 01/01/2014 |
| 10 | Jos Buttler | 116* | 46 | 8 | 10 | Pakistan | Dubai (DSC) | 20/11/2015 |
| 11 | Jos Buttler | 162* | 47 | 14 | 7 | Netherlands | Amstelveen | 17/06/2022 |
| 12 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 134 | 48 | 11 | 11 | Pakistan | Singapore | 02/04/1996 |
| 13 | Aiden Markram | 106 | 49 | 3 | 14 | Sri Lanka | Delhi | 07/10/2023 |
| 14 | Jos Buttler | 110* | 50 | 6 | 9 | Pakistan | Southampton | 11/05/2019 |
| 15 | Kevin O'Brien | 113 | 50 | 6 | 13 | England | Bangalore | 02/03/2011 |
The world record for the fastest ODI century is held by AB de Villiers, who crushed the West Indies in Johannesburg in 2015 with a century in just 31 balls. With 16 sixes and 9 fours, he amassed an incredible 149 runs in a stunning performance.
Corey Anderson smashed an unbeaten 131 from 36 balls against West Indies in Queenstown in 2014. The left-hander struck 14 sixes and 6 boundaries, and this record was the fastest ODI hundred until AB de Villiers broke it a year later.
Shahid Afridi shocked the cricket world in 1996 when he hit a 37-ball century against Sri Lanka in Nairobi at just 16 years old. His 102-run knock included 11 sixes and 6 fours, and it held the record for the fastest ODI hundred for nearly two decades.
Glenn Maxwell blazed to a 40-ball century against the Netherlands in Delhi during the 2023 World Cup. He scored 106 runs with 8 sixes and 9 fours, proving his destructive ability on the biggest stage.
UAE's Asif Khan scored an unbeaten 101 in just 41 balls against Nepal in Kirtipur in 2023. With eleven sixes and four fours, his innings was a surprising performance for cricket viewers.
| Rank | Player | Balls | Team Represented | Opponent | Venue | Year |
| 1 | Sahil Chauhan | 27 | Estonia | Cyprus | Episkopi | 2024 |
| 2 | Urvil Patel | 28 | Gujarat | Tripura | Indore | 2024 |
| 3 | Abhishek Sharma | 28 | Punjab | Meghalaya | Saurashtra | 2024 |
| 4 | Chris Gayle | 30 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Pune Warriors | Bangalore | 2013 |
| 5 | Rishabh Pant | 32 | Delhi | Himachal Pradesh | Delhi | 2018 |
| 6 | WJ Lubbe | 33 | North West | Limpopo | Paarl | 2018 |
| 7 | Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton | 33 | Namibia | Nepal | Namibia | 2024 |
| 8 | Sikandar Raza | 33 | Zimbabwe | Gambia | Nairobi | 2024 |
| 9 | Andrew Symonds | 34 | Kent | Middlesex | Maidstone | 2004 |
| 10 | Sean Abbott | 34 | Surrey | Kent | The Oval | 2023 |
| 11 | Kushal Malla | 34 | Nepal | Mongolia | Hangzhou | 2023 |
| 12 | LP van der Westhuizen | 35 | Namibia | Kenya | Windhoek | 2011 |
| 13 | David Miller | 35 | South Africa | Bangladesh | Potchefstroom | 2017 |
| 14 | Rohit Sharma | 35 | India | Sri Lanka | Indore | 2017 |
| 15 | Martin Guptill | 35 | Worcestershire | Northamptonshire | Northampton | 2018 |
Estonia's Sahil Chauhan recorded the fastest T20 hundred in just 27 balls against Cyprus in Episkopi in 2024. His stunning performance in T20 internationals set a new world record..
Urvil Patel, representing Gujarat, scored a T20 century in only 28 balls against Tripura in Indore in 2024. His fearless innings made him a sensation in Indian domestic cricket.
In 2024, while playing for Punjab against Meghalaya in Saurashtra, Abhishek Sharma also hit a century with 28 balls. He demonstrated his potential as a future star with his quick stroke.
Chris Gayle remains a T20 legend for his 30-ball century for RCB against Pune Warriors in 2013. His performance is still remembered as a classic in IPL history, as he achieved the highest individual T20 score of 175*.
| Rank | Player | Balls | Team Represented | Opponent | Venue | Season |
| 1 | Brendon McCullum | 54 | New Zealand | Australia | Christchurch | 2015/16 |
| 2 | Vivian Richards | 56 | West Indies | England | St John's | 1985/86 |
| 2 | Misbah-ul-Haq | 56 | Pakistan | Australia | Abu Dhabi | 2014/15 |
| 4 | Adam Gilchrist | 57 | Australia | England | Perth | 2006/07 |
| 5 | Jack Gregory | 67 | Australia | South Africa | Johannesburg | 1921/22 |
| 6 | Shivnarine Chanderpaul | 69 | West Indies | Australia | Georgetown | 2002/03 |
| 6 | David Warner | 69 | Australia | India | Perth | 2011/12 |
| 8 | Chris Gayle | 70 | West Indies | Australia | Perth | 2009/10 |
| 9 | Roy Fredericks | 71 | West Indies | Australia | Perth | 1975/76 |
| 9 | Colin de Grandhomme | 71 | New Zealand | West Indies | Wellington | 2017/18 |
| 11 | Majid Khan | 74 | Pakistan | New Zealand | Karachi | 1976/77 |
| 11 | Mohammad Azharuddin | 74 | India | South Africa | Calcutta | 1996/97 |
| 11 | Brendon McCullum | 74 | New Zealand | Sri Lanka | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | 2014/15 |
| 14 | AB de Villiers | 75 | South Africa | India | Centurion | 2010/11 |
| 15 | Gilbert Jessop | 76 | England | Australia | The Oval | 1902 |
During his final series in 2016, Brendon McCullum set a record for the fastest Test century, hitting it in just 54 balls against Australia in Christchurch.
In 1986, Viv Richards combined style and tenacity to hit a scorching 56-ball century for the West Indies against England at St. John's.
Misbah-ul-Haq matched Richards with a 56-ball century against Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2014, blending calmness and power in a rare feat for Pakistan.
Adam Gilchrist punished the bowlers with traditional engaging cricket in 2006 when he smashed a 57-ball ton for Australia against England in Perth.
Jack Gregory scored a 67-ball century against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1921, making it the earliest known instance of rapid scoring in Test history.
Also Check: More Cricket Records
Who has the fastest century in cricket history?
Sahil Chauhan owns the record in T20s (27 balls), while AB de Villiers holds the record in ODIs (31 balls).
What is the fastest 100 in T20?
In 2024, Sahil Chauhan scored a century off of 27 balls for Estonia against Cyprus.
Who scored 100 in 21 balls?
As of 2025, no player in official international cricket has reached 100 runs in 21 balls. However, Iraq Thomas broke Chris Gayle's previous record by scoring 100 runs off of 21 balls. This feat was achieved during a Tobacco Cricket Association T20 tournament in Trinidad and Tobago
