There’s a moment in T20 cricket when time bends. A strike carved over midwicket, another muscled over long-on, the ball disappears into the rafters, and the scoreboard blinks like it’s short-circuiting. In that moment, there’s no difference between artistry and violence — power, timing, and precision converge into a singular spectacle: the fastest century in T20 cricket.
It’s not just about numbers. It’s about momentum, madness, muscle memory. It’s about players commanding chaos on their terms. Scoring a century in T20 cricket is rare enough. Doing it rapidly? That’s an eruption — a statement that etches a player’s name into cricketing folklore.
Let’s dive deep into the most astounding T20 hundreds ever recorded, dissect the anatomy of these blitzkriegs, and explore what truly defines the fastest century in T20. From franchise fireworks to international marvels, here’s the unfiltered narrative of cricket’s wildest performances.
What Is Considered a Fast Century in T20 Cricket?
“Fast” in T20 is not a vague intuition; it’s a metric — how many deliveries does a batter take to reach three figures? This number, encapsulated as “balls faced,” determines the pace of a century.
To qualify as one of the fastest 100s in T20:
- The batter usually takes fewer than 40 balls.
- The innings is dominated by sixes and boundary-hitting.
- It often comes in powerplay-overloaded or death-overs-accelerated contexts.
But ask those who’ve been in the game — speed isn’t just mathematics. It’s situational awareness, reading bowlers, picking gaps, and riding adrenaline without letting it ruin your timing.
The Fastest Century in T20 Cricket: The Record That Changed the Game
The record for the fastest century in T20 cricket belongs to Chris Gayle, who blasted his way to an unbeaten 175 off just 66 balls, reaching his hundred in a staggering 30 deliveries.
Here’s what made it unforgettable:
- Match: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Pune Warriors
- Tournament: Indian Premier League (IPL)
- Century reached in: 30 balls
- Final score: 175* off 66 balls
- Number of sixes: 17
- Number of fours: 13
Yes, that’s the fastest century in T20 by balls faced. But it’s more than that. Chris Gayle didn’t just break a record – he turned a league game into a cultural moment. Those 30 balls weren’t just scripted brilliance; they were spontaneous combustion.
Key Stats From Gayle’s Knock (Fastest 100 in T20)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Balls to 50 | 17 |
| Balls to 100 | 30 |
| Balls to 150 | 53 |
| Sixes hit | 17 |
| Total boundaries | 30 (13 fours, 17 sixes) |
| Strike rate | 265.15 |
That innings had bowlers looking like tourists, fans in disbelief, and a scoreboard operator fighting carpal tunnel. But Gayle wasn’t the final chapter in this saga — just a prominent one.
Top 10 Fastest Centuries in T20 Cricket (All formats: T20Is + Leagues)
While Gayle’s feat reigns, others have penned their own carnivals of destruction. Here’s a detailed table of the top 10 fastest centuries in men’s T20 cricket:
| Rank | Player | Balls Faced | Score | Team/League | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gayle | 30 | 175* (66) | RCB (IPL) | Pune Warriors |
| 2 | Rishabh Pant | 32 | 116 (38) | Delhi (Syed Mushtaq Ali) | Himachal Pradesh |
| 3 | Wihan Lubbe | 33 | 102 (33) | Warriors (CSA T20) | Knights |
| 4 | Andrew Symonds | 34 | 112 (43) | Kent (T20 Cup) | Middlesex |
| 5 | David Miller | 35 | 101* (36) | South Africa (T20I) | Bangladesh |
| 6 | Rohit Sharma | 35 | 118 (43) | India (T20I) | Sri Lanka |
| 7 | Sudesh Wickramasekera | 35 | 104 (36) | Czech Republic (T20I) | Turkey |
| 8 | Suryakumar Yadav | 36 | 117 (55) | India (T20I) | England |
| 9 | KL Rahul | 46 | 110* (51) | India (T20I) | West Indies |
| 10 | Glenn Maxwell | 47 | 145* (65) | Melbourne (BBL) | Hobart Hurricanes |
These are not knockabouts. Each had a strategic backbone. Even amid destruction, modern T20 batting requires mental acuteness, match awareness, and technical assurance.
Fastest Centuries in T20 Internationals (T20Is)
Let’s isolate international cricket — the fastest 100 in T20I belongs jointly to David Miller, Rohit Sharma, and Sudesh Wickramasekera, who all got there in 35 balls.
Here’s how those tons unfolded:
David Miller (South Africa vs Bangladesh)
- It was a dead rubber. The series was wrapped.
- Bangladeshi attack was pace-heavy with minimal variation.
- Miller’s late surge included five sixes in one over.
- Reached 100 with disdain, finishing unbeaten in the process.
Rohit Sharma (India vs Sri Lanka)
- At Indore’s Holkar Stadium, a batting paradise.
- Rohit found rhythm early and punished overpitched lengths.
- A century off 35 balls came like breathless poetry.
Sudesh Wickramasekera (Czech Republic vs Turkey)
- Not in world spotlight, but a surreal display in European qualifiers.
- Turkey’s bowling lacked international sharpness.
- Still, bottom line: scoring a T20I century in 35 balls doesn’t happen by luck.
🔍 KEY TAKEAWAY: The fastest T20 international century isn’t a solo Indian or South African affair — players from lesser-known nations are also writing chapters in this tale.
Fastest Century by Indian Player in T20
Rohit Sharma’s elegant carnage against Sri Lanka put him atop the list of fastest T20 hundreds by an Indian — a 35-ball beauty that remains etched in Indian cricketing history.
Consider This:
- Rohit wasn’t just flaying — he was dancing with the bowling.
- He showcased wristy aggression, dominating both spin and pace.
- Efficiency: His hundred came with minimal dot balls and maximum timing.
His knock is the gold standard for how class and power aren’t mutually exclusive in the world of T20 strike rates.
Who Has the Fastest IPL Century?
No suspense here — again, it’s Chris Gayle.
But let’s not diminish others. Several IPL centuries have been scored with jaw-dropping urgency. Consider Yusuf Pathan’s 37-ball 100 or David Miller’s IPL explosions.
| Player | Balls to 100 | Final Score | Team | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Gayle | 30 | 175* | RCB | Pune Warriors |
| Yusuf Pathan | 37 | 100 | RR | Mumbai Indians |
| David Miller | 38 | 101* | Kings XI | RCB |
Pathan’s innings was particularly memorable — a freak show of intent as he turned a hopeless situation into a near miracle, making his 100 in 37 balls when Rajasthan Royals were drowning at 40/4.
Fastest T20 100s in League Cricket (BBL, CPL, PSL, Others)
Franchise cricket has become ground zero for these eruptive knocks. Below are the fastest tons across leagues:
| League | Fastest Century (Balls) | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | 30 | Chris Gayle | RCB |
| BBL | 41 | Craig Simmons | Perth Scorchers |
| PSL | 43 | Rilee Rossouw | Multan Sultans |
| CPL | 40 | Andre Russell | Jamaica Tallawahs |
| T20 Blast | 34 | Andrew Symonds | Kent |
These leagues are pressure cookers. The audience demands drama. And that dynamic — fans craving boundaries and batters playing hero — often triggers these record-breaking knocks.
Strategic Breakdown: How Are Fast T20 Centuries Scored?
1. Early Powerplay Domination
Most rapid centuries begin with intent in the Powerplay. Fielding restrictions are exploited with lofted inside-out shots and fierce pulls.
2. Spin-Targeting During Middle Overs
Smart batters like Suryakumar Yadav and Maxwell use deceptive footwork to dismantle spin, scoring heavily between overs 7–13.
3. Death-Over Rampage
No better time for clean-hitting than overs 16–20. When players are nearing a century, they double down. Think six-hitting juggernauts — Pollard, Russell, and de Kock.
Most Sixes in a T20 Century
Chris Gayle again leads the pack with 17 sixes in that infamous IPL knock. But some other enterprising efforts have peppered the boundary ropes with thunder too.
| Player | Match | Sixes Hit |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Gayle | RCB vs Pune Warriors | 17 |
| Aaron Finch | Sussex vs Surrey | 14 |
| Glenn Phillips | New Zealand vs West Indies | 10 |
| Evin Lewis | Patriots vs Tallawahs | 11 |
The modern six: it’s part art, part physics. Bat speed, barrel-width, foot placement, and judgment all combine. It’s no longer just brawn. It’s engineered offense.
FAQs Around the Fastest T20 Hundreds
Who scored the fastest 100 in T20?
Chris Gayle, with a 30-ball century during IPL.
Who has the fastest century in T20 internationals?
David Miller, Rohit Sharma and Sudesh Wickramasekera share the record at 35 balls.
Has any Indian scored a T20 century in under 35 balls?
No Indian has yet cracked the sub-35-ball mark. Rohit Sharma holds the fastest Indian T20 ton in 35 balls.
What’s the fewest number of balls to score a T20 50 and 100?
- Fastest 50: Yuvraj Singh, 12 balls
- Fastest 100: Chris Gayle, 30 balls
The Future: 25-Ball Centuries?
With increasing bat technologies, flatter pitches, and fearless new-generation hitters, the 30-ball benchmark may not stand forever.
Look at the explosive rise of young talents — the Shubman Gills, Harry Brooks, Tristan Stubbs — players raised on T20. Their batting grammar is designed for destruction.
In a season or two, a 28 or even 26-ball century might materialize — in a ground like Sharjah, chasing 240.
Final Word: Fireworks or Legacy?
The fastest century in T20 isn’t just about vanity stats. It reveals the redefinition of risk. It exposes how the modern batter calculates, improvises, and dares. It’s a snapshot of T20’s evolution — no longer an afterthought to Tests and ODIs but a frontier with its own legends.
Every time a player launches another six and crosses into 3-digit territory with fewer than 40 balls, we aren’t just witnessing fireworks. We’re watching cricket’s future — one thunderous shot at a time.
🎯 From Chris Gayle to Rohit Sharma, from T20Is to the wild world of PSL and BBL, the fastest centuries tell you everything about how cricket today is bold, brutal, and absolutely beautiful.
