The T20 World Cup is one of cricket’s most exciting events because it brings together the best talent from around the world, all competing under intense pressure in the shortest format of the game. Among the thrilling batting feats that fans always look forward to are centuries scored at breathtaking speed. A century in T20 cricket is already rare because of the limited number of balls a batsman gets, but when it happens at a lightning pace, it becomes unforgettable.
The Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History represent not only batting brilliance but also the ability to read the game situation, take risks, and execute them with perfection. Each century on this list has had a huge impact on fans and changed the way T20 cricket has been viewed. These centuries are more than just quick runs – they symbolize aggression, confidence, and cricketing innovation. In this detailed article, we look at the top 10 Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History, starting from number 10 and moving to the fastest of them all.
List of 10 Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History
10. Mahela Jayawardene
The 10th position in the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History goes to Mahela Jayawardene, who was more often admired for his elegant batting than raw power. Yet, in 2010, during a game against Zimbabwe, he showcased an aggressive side of his game that few had seen before. Reaching his century in 63 balls, Jayawardene displayed a perfect blend of technique and controlled hitting. He didn’t depend only on sixes but used his placement skills to find boundaries. For Sri Lanka, this innings was crucial because it set the platform for a commanding total. For Jayawardene personally, it showed the world that even the most technically gifted batsman could adapt to the high demands of T20 cricket. His century remains one of the finest displays of balance between aggression and grace in the history of the game Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History.
| Player | Balls | Matches | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mahela Jayawardene | 63 | 55 | 1016 |
9. Glenn Phillips
Ninth on the list of the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History is Glenn Phillips, who stunned fans in the 2022 edition. Playing against Sri Lanka, Phillips scored his century in just 61 balls. His knock wasn’t just about clearing the boundary; it was about dominating the opposition bowlers with raw power and excellent shot selection. Phillips combined muscular strength with fearless cricketing spirit, never hesitating to attack even the best bowlers. For New Zealand, this innings came at a vital stage, lifting the team’s spirits and proving Phillips’ ability to rise in crunch matches. The knock was full of energy, intent, and the kind of confidence that makes players stand out in world tournaments. This innings ensured that his name would always be remembered among the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History.
| Player | Balls | Matches | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn Phillips | 61 | 64 | 1555 |
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8. Tamim Iqbal
Taking the eighth spot in the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History is Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal, who delivered a landmark performance in 2016. Against Oman, he achieved his hundred in 60 balls, becoming the first-ever Bangladeshi to score a century in the T20 World Cup. What made this innings so special was the way Tamim controlled the pace of his knock. He started with patience, ensuring his team stayed safe in the early overs, but later accelerated with sheer dominance. His calculated aggression, clever rotation of strike, and clean hitting against both spinners and pacers made it a historic moment for Bangladesh cricket. This innings remains a symbol of Bangladesh’s rise on the international stage and Tamim’s status as one of their most dependable match-winners. His name rightly deserves a spot in the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History.
| Player | Balls | Matches | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamim Iqbal | 60 | 78 | 1758 |
7. Alex Hales
Seventh on the list of the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History is Alex Hales, who played a career-defining knock against Sri Lanka in 2014. Hales became the first English batsman to score a T20 World Cup century, and he did it in exactly 60 balls. His innings showcased his ability to dominate in big tournaments. Hales played with attacking intent right from the start, punishing spinners with lofted shots and using his long reach to clear the boundary ropes. It was not just a century, but a message to the cricketing world that England had batsmen capable of excelling in the shortest format. The innings continues to be celebrated in England’s T20 World Cup history as a turning point in their approach to aggressive batting. Without doubt, Hales’ performance deserves its place among the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History.
| Player | Balls | Matches | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Hales | 60 | 75 | 2074 |
6. Suresh Raina
In sixth place on the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History list is Suresh Raina, who provided one of the most memorable moments in Indian cricket. Against South Africa in 2010, Raina hammered his way to a hundred in just 59 balls. What made this innings particularly special was that it was India’s first-ever century in the T20 World Cup. Facing a high-quality South African attack, Raina’s composure and ability to attack both seamers and spinners set him apart. His clean strikes over extra cover and long-on highlighted his natural attacking instincts. This innings wasn’t only a personal milestone but also a historic chapter in India’s T20 cricket journey. To this day, fans recall Raina’s century as one of the shining examples of the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History.
| Player | Balls | Matches | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suresh Raina | 59 | 78 | 1605 |
5. Ahmed Shehzad
Number five on the list of the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History goes to Ahmed Shehzad, who delighted Pakistan fans with a remarkable performance against Bangladesh in 2014. Shehzad scored his hundred in just 58 balls, becoming the first Pakistani player to achieve this feat in the T20 World Cup. His innings had a perfect mix of timing and power. He was aggressive when needed but never lost control of the situation, ensuring Pakistan dominated the match. Shehzad’s knock remains a proud memory for his fans, as it highlighted his potential to shine in the biggest tournaments. It also underlined Pakistan’s long tradition of producing natural stroke-makers who rise on global platforms. Without a doubt, Shehzad’s innings remains one of the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History.
| Player | Balls | Matches | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmed Shehzad | 58 | 61 | 1471 |
4. Rilee Rossouw
The fourth spot in the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History is claimed by South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw, who produced fireworks against Bangladesh in 2022. His innings, completed in just 52 balls, was a brutal display of power-hitting. Rossouw punished every bowler he faced, clearing the boundary almost at will. His aggression was so overwhelming that it completely shifted the momentum in South Africa’s favor. Rossouw’s knock reminded fans of South Africa’s tradition of fearless batting and stamped his authority on the world stage. The speed of this century not only boosted South Africa’s confidence but also gave fans one of the most memorable displays of destructive batting in tournament history. Rossouw’s name will always remain etched in the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History.
| Player | Balls | Matches | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rilee Rossouw | 52 | 29 | 767 |
3. Brendon McCullum
Third on the list of the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History is Brendon McCullum, the man often credited with redefining how the shortest format should be played. Against Bangladesh in 2012, McCullum hammered his way to a hundred in only 51 balls, giving New Zealand a dominant position in the match. His knock was fearless, filled with audacious shots across the ground. What stood out in this innings was his ability to take risks without ever seeming under pressure. Whether it was stepping out to spinners or smashing seamers over mid-wicket, McCullum showed complete command.
This innings had a larger impact too. McCullum’s century was the first by a New Zealand player in the T20 World Cup, making it a landmark moment for his country. For fans, it was a perfect example of why McCullum was considered a true pioneer of modern T20 batting. He didn’t just bat; he attacked relentlessly and set the tone for his team’s fearless approach in future matches. For many cricket followers, this remains one of the most thrilling memories of the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History.
| Player | Balls | Matches | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brendon McCullum | 51 | 71 | 2140 |
2. Chris Gayle
Second place in the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History is taken by Chris Gayle, who lit up the very first edition of the tournament in 2007 with his unmatched power. Facing South Africa in the opening game of the competition, Gayle created history by becoming the first batsman ever to score a century in a T20 World Cup. His hundred came in just 50 balls, setting the stage for how explosive the format would become.
Gayle’s knock was nothing short of extraordinary. He launched bowlers to all parts of the ground, making six-hitting look effortless. His towering shots over long-on and mid-wicket stunned the home crowd in Johannesburg, who could only applaud the sheer dominance of the West Indian opener. For West Indies, this innings was more than just a milestone; it was a declaration of their natural flair in the shortest format.
What made Gayle’s effort iconic was not just the speed of his century but the fact that it came at the birth of the T20 World Cup. Fans around the world witnessed what was possible in the game’s newest format, and Gayle’s innings became a benchmark for all future explosive knocks. To this day, his century in 2007 is remembered as one of the most important moments in the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History.
| Player | Balls | Matches | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Gayle | 50 | 79 | 1899 |
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1. Chris Gayle
At the very top of the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History is Chris Gayle once again, proving why he is called the “Universe Boss.” Against England in 2016, Gayle delivered one of the most unforgettable innings in T20 World Cup history. Reaching his century in just 47 balls, he broke his own record and stamped his authority as the most destructive batsman the format has ever seen.
Gayle’s innings was brutal, powerful, and utterly dominant. He cleared the boundary with ease, hitting sixes that traveled deep into the stands. The English bowlers tried everything, but nothing could stop him. Every time they pitched short, he pulled them; every time they bowled full, he drove them with ferocity. This knock not only won West Indies the game but also showed the world how one man could change the course of a T20 match single-handedly.
What makes this innings stand apart is the aura Gayle carried. Fans knew they were watching something special the moment he started connecting the ball. It was not just the fastest hundred in T20 World Cup history; it was an exhibition of fearless cricket, the kind that defines the very spirit of T20 cricket. Gayle’s 47-ball century continues to stand as the quickest in the tournament and one of the greatest highlights in the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History.
| Player | Balls | Matches | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Gayle | 47 | 79 | 1899 |
Looking back at the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History, it becomes clear that these innings are more than just quickfire runs – they are milestones that capture the essence of modern cricket. Each player in this list, from Mahela Jayawardene to Glenn Phillips, Tamim Iqbal, Alex Hales, Suresh Raina, Ahmed Shehzad, Rilee Rossouw, Brendon McCullum, and Chris Gayle, brought their own style and left their mark on the biggest stage of all.
Jayawardene’s touch of elegance, Phillips’ power, Tamim’s pride for Bangladesh, Hales’ historic knock for England, Raina’s milestone for India, Shehzad’s brilliance for Pakistan, Rossouw’s sheer dominance, McCullum’s fearless spirit, and Gayle’s unmatched destruction – each innings added a unique chapter to the tournament’s story. Together, they remind fans why the T20 World Cup is one of the most entertaining spectacles in cricket.
As new editions of the tournament come, new names may join this elite list. But for now, the record-breaking performances we’ve seen will remain iconic, with Chris Gayle’s 47-ball century shining at the top as the ultimate example of batting destruction. These knocks are etched forever in memory, and whenever fans talk about breathtaking batting, the Fastest Hundreds in T20 World Cup History will always be part of that conversation.