Fastest T20 Centuries: The Records for Quickest Hundreds in Twenty20 Cricket
The fastest centuries in T20 cricket history — in T20 internationals and franchise competitions — with the stories behind the most explosive innings the format has ever seen.
A century in T20 cricket is already remarkable given that there are only 120 balls in an innings. The fastest hundreds — reached in 30 balls or fewer — represent some of the most extreme boundary-hitting cricket ever played, combining power, timing, and an almost reckless disregard for conventional batting wisdom.
The Franchise Record: Chris Gayle 30 Balls (2013)
Chris Gayle scored a century off just 30 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in the 2013 IPL — the fastest century in T20 cricket franchise history at the time. Gayle eventually finished with 175 not out off 66 balls, the highest T20 innings score. His innings included 17 sixes and 13 fours, and he scored 100 runs off 30 balls by hitting sixes off virtually every second delivery for extended periods.
Fastest T20I Centuries
In T20 international cricket, the record for fastest century has been contested between several players. Rohit Sharma's 35-ball century against Sri Lanka in 2017 is among the fastest in T20I history. Czech Republic's Sudesh Wickramasekara scored a T20I century off 22 balls against Turkey in a 2019 associate match, though records from associate cricket are sometimes separated in discussions of the 'main stream' T20I records.
AB de Villiers and the Era of Impossible Innings
South Africa's AB de Villiers was widely considered the greatest T20 batter of his era, capable of scoring in every direction around the wicket with equal authority. His 149 not out in an ODI off 44 balls drew widespread attention, while in T20 cricket his franchise hundreds scored in under 40 deliveries were commonplace during his peak IPL years with Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Suryakumar Yadav's Modern Records
India's Suryakumar Yadav has produced multiple centuries in T20 internationals at strike rates exceeding 200, combining unconventional shots through the 360-degree field with the consistency to sustain pressure-free boundaries throughout an innings. His ramp shots over third man, switch hits over point, and scoop shots over fine leg have created a new lexicon for T20 batting analysis.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum number of balls theoretically needed to score a century in T20?
Theoretically, a batter could score a century in 17 balls — hitting a six off every delivery (17 × 6 = 102). In practice, no batter has come close to this, as sustaining six-hitting on successive deliveries from quality bowlers is nearly impossible. The real-world record of around 22–30 balls represents the actual limits of human power hitting.
Have women's cricketers scored centuries in T20 internationals?
Yes. Several women's cricketers have scored T20I centuries, including India's Smriti Mandhana and Australia's Meg Lanning, who have both scored T20I hundreds. Women's T20I centuries are rarer partly because women's T20I cricket has a shorter history and fewer matches, but the power-hitting revolution in women's cricket has made them more frequent.