Fastest T20 Century in Cricket: Full List & Records (2005–2026)

The Evolution of Power-Hitting in T20 Internationals

The landscape of Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket has undergone a radical transformation. What was once considered exceptional—scoring a run-a-ball fifty or anchoring an innings—has evolved into an era where batters clear boundaries from ball one. The ultimate benchmark of destructive batting remains the fastest century, a feat that requires unrelenting aggression, precision, and hand-eye coordination.

From the foundational days of the late 2000s to modern masterclasses, the threshold for reaching triple figures has dropped dramatically, blurring the line between Associate and Full Member cricketing records.

The Summit: Sahil Chauhan’s 27-Ball Masterclass

Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan holds the all-time world record for the fastest century in men’s T20 international cricket. On June 17, 2024, during a bilateral match against Cyprus at the Happy Valley Ground in Episkopi, Chauhan produced an astonishing display of boundary-hitting.

• Balls to Century: 27 balls
• Final Score: 144* off 41 deliveries
• Boundary Count: 6 fours, 18 sixes
• Strike Rate: 351.21

Chauhan shattered the previous record set by Namibia’s Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (33 balls) by six deliveries, while also claiming the record for the most sixes hit in a single men’s T20I innings.

Abhishek Sharma’s Dominance for India

Among ICC Full Member nations, India’s Abhishek Sharma has emerged as one of the most explosive top-order batters in the modern format.

Sharma announced his arrival on the world stage with a blistering 34-ball hundred against Afghanistan on September 17, 2026, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, ending with 108 runs. He carried this lethal form into bilateral fixtures, continuing to post rapid-fire centuries, including a 35-ball ton against New Zealand at Wellington and a 37-ball blitz against England at the Wankhede Stadium. His aggressive intent at the top of the order exemplifies India’s modern power-hitting blueprint.

Complete List of the Fastest Centuries in Men’s T20Is

The table below catalogs the fastest hundreds scored in men’s Twenty20 Internationals, highlighting performances from both Associate nations and Full Member heavyweights:

Notable Milestones in T20I Century History

• The Genesis: Chris Gayle struck the inaugural international T20 ton during the opening match of the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 against South Africa, scoring 117 off 57 balls.
• The Benchmark Innings: Australia’s Aaron Finch holds the highest individual score in men’s T20I history with his 172 off 76 balls against Zimbabwe in Harare (2018).
• Multi-Century Leaders: Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell lead the global tally for the most career T20I centuries, having each reached the three-figure mark 5 times.
• Youngest Centurion: Gustav McKeon of France became the youngest player to score a men’s T20I century at 18 years and 280 days against Switzerland in July 2022.
• Full Member Record Holder: Abhishek Sharma holds the fastest century by an Indian and Full Member cricketer, having reached the milestone in 34 deliveries against Afghanistan.