Fastest T20 Century: Fastest 100s in T20 Cricket History

Scoring a century in T20 cricket is the toughest among batting feats because a batter gets only 120 legal deliveries to score maximum runs. While 100 runs is great, being able to hit it in less than 30 balls and display some insane power hitting, as well as the ability to rotate strike, is ridiculous. Sahil Chauhan of Estonia currently holds the record for Fastest T20 Century since achieving his100 off only27 balls against Cyprus in June 2024. This innings, too, was quicker than Chris Gayle’s famous 30-ball century in the IPL in 2013. 

Make a distinction between overall T20 cricket, T20 internationals, the IPL and some of the other franchise competitions etc. A record in one category is not automatically the record in another.

What Is the Fastest T20 Century?

Fastest century in men’s T20is: Sahil Chauhan (EST) 100 runs off 27 balls against Cyprus at Happy Valley Ground, Episkopi, Cyprus on 17 June 2024. Chauhan finally stayed not out on 144 off just 41 deliveries with the help of 6 fours and a whopping169 sixes. It had a strike rate of 351.21. Chasing 191/7 this time it was Estonia’s turn, and they were able to win by six wickets.

It is also the fastest T20I century and the fastest in men’s senior T20 cricket, scored on strokes of 27 balls. Now Chauhan’s record is the reigning Guinness World Records men’s fastest T20 International hundred.

Fastest T20 Century Record

Chauhan’s century was especially remarkable because Estonia were chasing a challenging target and had lost two wickets early. He came in at No. 4 and immediately attacked the Cyprus bowling attack. His 18 sixes were also a men’s T20I record at the time.

Also read this: West Indies vs India T20 | Fastest ODI Century | Abhishek Sharma

Fastest T20 Centuries in Cricket History

The list below ranks notable men’s T20 centuries according to the number of balls required to reach 100.

Sahil Chauhan sits at the top with 27 balls, while Urvil Patel and Abhishek Sharma both reach their hundreds in 28 balls in domestic T20 cricket. Muhammad Fahad’s 29-ball century for Turkey in 2025 also put him among the fastest century makers in T20I cricket. The list also shows how quickly T20 batting has evolved. Chris Gayle’s 30-ball century stood as the overall T20 record for more than 11 years before Chauhan broke it in 2024.

Fastest T20I Century

The fastest T20I century, 100 from just 27 balls against Cyprus on 17 June 2024, is held by Sahil Chauhan. Namibia’s Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, who scored a 33-ball century against Nepal in February 2024, also held the T20I record prior to Chauhan’s innings. Chauhan became the new record holder with six deliveries to spare.

It was the third set collapsed on October 12 with a score of Chauhan not out having scored 144 off 41 balls to hit all come back for added six and four balls. He went on to have an even greater significance in the innings as Estonia chased 192 with 13 balls remaining because his score drove that successful run chase.

Fastest T20I Hundreds

The 2026 record books added another major name to this list when Abhishek Sharma scored a 30-ball century against Afghanistan. His hundred is the fastest T20I century by an Indian and the fastest T20I century in a match between two Full Member nations.

Fastest 100 in T20I Cricket

Sahil Chauhan’s 100 in just 27 balls is the fastest century in T20I cricket While Muhammad Fahad follows with 29 balls, India’s Abhishek Sharma is overall third with his hundred against Afghanistan in September 2026 (30 balls). However, Abhishek’s achievement holds special significance for Indian cricket. That beat the Indian record of 35 balls set by Rohit Sharma v Sri Lanka in December 2017.

Abhishek Sharma’s 30-Ball T20I Century

On 17 September 2026, Abhishek Sharma scored 108 from 34 balls against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. He reached his century in only 30 balls, with nine fours and 11 sixes. India scored 221/7 and then dismissed Afghanistan for 94, winning by 127 runs and completing a 3-0 series sweep.

His 30-ball hundred became:

• The fastest T20I century by an Indian batter
• The fastest T20I century by a batter from a Full Member nation
• The third-fastest T20I century overall at the time
• A new Indian record, replacing Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball mark

Fastest Century in IPL

Although the fastest century in IPL history continues to be Chris Gayle’s 30-ball hundred for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India on April 23, 2013. Gayle’s innings is among the most memorable knocks in T20 cricket. He ultimately finished on 175 not out off just 66 balls, with 13 fours and an incredible 17 sixes. RCB batted first scoring 263/5 beating Pune Warriors India by 130 runs

At that time, even IPL had termed Gayle’s 30-ball hundred as the fastest century in T20 cricket.

Fastest 100s in IPL History

Gayle’s 30-ball century has therefore remained the IPL benchmark despite several explosive innings in subsequent seasons. In 2026, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi came close again but did not break the record.

Fastest T20 Century by Indian Players

A number of players have come through Indian cricket who can score brutally fast hundreds in T20s. As of now, the fastest T20I century by an Indian with a 30-ball hundred against Afghanistan in 2026 is held by Abhishek Sharma. Rohit Sharma had last held the record for India with his 35-ball ton against Sri Lanka in T20Is.

Urvil Patel and Abhishek Sharma smashed 28-ball hundreds in domestic T20 cricket in 2024. Gujarat’s Urvil scored a century against Tripura, while Abhishek’s hundred was for Punjab against Meghalaya.

Fastest T20 Centuries by Indian Batters

*Chris Gayle is not Indian but is included as an IPL benchmark.

Fastest T20 Century: Balls Faced Comparison

During the fastest T20 Century the only criteria here is the number of legal balls faced before reaching 100. No matter how many runs the player ends up scoring, a player hitting his 100 from 27 balls has registered a faster century than another reaching it from 30 balls.

The difference between these milestones is significant:

It is also important not to confuse a player’s balls faced in the complete innings with the number of balls required to reach 100. For example, Sahil Chauhan scored 144 not out from 41 balls, but he reached his century after facing only 27 balls.

Fastest T20 Century vs Fastest ODI Century

The two formats require very different batting approaches.

Sahil Chauhan’s 27-ball T20I century is faster than AB de Villiers’ 31-ball ODI century. De Villiers reached his ODI hundred against West Indies in 2015, while Chauhan achieved his T20I record against Cyprus in 2024. The comparison should nevertheless be viewed in context because T20 and ODI cricket have different field restrictions, innings lengths and tactical demands.

Fastest Century in Cricket History

Fastest century in cricket history sounds like a great tagline, but records tend to be format-specific. Sahil Chauhan has the fastest hundred in men’s senior T20 cricket off just 27 balls AB de Villiers – 31-ball Hundred – All ODI cricket Chris Gayle’s 30-ball century is still the fastest in IPL history.

So, if the question is asked for fastest 100 in cricket, then we must specify whether it is T20 cricket or T20I cricket (T20 and T20I are different competitions) or IPL (Indian Premier League, a major T20 league), ODI or some other competition.

Most Impressive Fast T20 Centuries

Sahil Chauhan – 27 Balls

Sahil Chauhan’s 27-ball century is the standout record. He scored 144* from 41 balls and smashed 18 sixes in his T20I against Cyprus.

Muhammad Fahad – 29 Balls

Turkey’s Muhammad Fahad scored a 29-ball century against Bulgaria in July 2025. He finished with 120 from 34 balls, including 12 sixes and 10 fours.

Chris Gayle – 30 Balls

Gayle’s 30-ball century for RCB against Pune Warriors India remains the most famous IPL entry on the list. He eventually scored 175* from 66 balls, which made the innings even more extraordinary.

Abhishek Sharma – 30 Balls

Abhishek’s 30-ball hundred against Afghanistan in 2026 established a new Indian T20I record and became the fastest T20I century by a batter from a Full Member nation.

T20 Century Records and Statistics

Not only the fastest T20 century but also a little snippet of the batting record book in the T20 format. While here, check out other important T20 batting records:

• Speedy 100: Sahil Chauhan (27 balls)
• Fastest T20I hundred:Sahil Chauhan: 27 balls
• Abhishek Sharma: 30 balls, Fastest T20I century by an Indian
• Chris Gayle: 30 balls | Fastest IPL century
• Highest Individual Score in Men’s T20: 189*, Lhuan-dre Pretorius (October 2026)
• Most sixes in an innings (men’s T20I): Sahil Chauhan – 18

The record for the highest individual score in men’s T20 cricket changed in October 2026 when South Africa’s Lhuan-dre Pretorius scored an unbeaten 189 for the Titans, surpassing Chris Gayle’s long-standing 175*.

Conclusion

The fastest T20 century currently belongs to Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan, who smashed a remarkable 27-ball hundred against Cyprus in 2024. His record surpassed Chris Gayle’s legendary 30-ball IPL century, which had stood as the overall T20 benchmark for more than a decade.

This is the latest feat to be accomplished in an updated version of T20 cricket that stretches batting milestones ever higher. The format is changing at an astonishing pace as evidenced by the 29-ball T20I century inside one innings from Muhammad Fahad and a 30-ball hundred against Afghanistan from Abhishek Sharma. Abhishek’s knock is now the fastest century in T20I history from an Indian cricketer, and also for a batter which emerged from a Full Member nation.

After all, the context of both the number of balls faced, corresponding boundary count and match situation are all part of what makes these record-breaking innings such otherworldly numbers. T20 batting has become increasingly explosive, but the record for 27-ball score will remain one of the toughest hurdles future batters face.

FAQs

1.What is the fastest T20 century?

The fastest T20 century is Sahil Chauhan’s 27-ball hundred for Estonia against Cyprus in a T20 International on 17 June 2024.

2.Who scored the fastest T20 century?

Sahil Chauhan holds the record. He reached 100 in 27 balls against Cyprus in 2024.

3.How many balls did the fastest T20 century take?

The fastest T20 century took 27 balls. Sahil Chauhan reached the milestone in 27 deliveries.

4.Who has the fastest T20I century?

Sahil Chauhan has the fastest men’s T20I century, reaching 100 in 27 balls for Estonia against Cyprus.

5.What is the fastest century in IPL history?

Chris Gayle holds the IPL record with a 30-ball century for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in 2013.

Asth Tech