ODI World Cup is the biggest event for any team or player. This is the tournament that every cricketer prepares for. The World Cup happens once every four years. In the 12 editions, Australia has won five, while India and the West Indies have won two each. We have seen many memorable performances in World Cup history.
Some of them stick in our minds. Just like when AB de Villiers smashed the fastest 150 against the West Indies in 2015. Rohit Sharma smashed five centuries in the 2019 edition, or Kumar Sangakkara scored four consecutive ton in 2015. However, in this article, we will discuss the fastest ton in ODI World Cup history.
Fastest Hundred in ODI World Cup
Glenn Maxwell from Australia broke 12 years old record and scored fastest century in World cup in just 40 balls against Netherlands.
| Batter | Balls | Vs | Venue | Date |
| Glenn Maxwell (Aus) | 40 | Netherlands | Delhi | 25 Oct 2023 |
| Kevin O’Brien (IRE) | 50 | England | Bangalore | 02 Mar 2011 |
| Glenn Maxwell (AUS) | 51 | Sri Lanka | Sydney | 08 Mar 2015 |
| AB de Villiers (SA) | 52 | West Indies | Sydney | 27 Feb 2015 |
| Eoin Morgan (ENG) | 57 | Afghanistan | Manchester | 18 Jun 2019 |
| Fakhar Zaman (PAK) | 63 | New Zealand | Bengaluru | 04 Oct 2023 |
| Mathew Hayden (AUS) | 66 | South Africa | Basseterre | 24 Mar 2007 |
| Jim Davison (CAN) | 67 | West Indies | Centurion | 23 Feb 2003 |
| Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 70 | England | Kolkata | 01 Mar 2015 |
| Paul Stirling (IRE) | 70 | Netherlands | Wellington | 18 Mar 2011 |
| Kapil Dev (IND) | 72 | Zimbabwe | Bridgetown | 18 Jun 1983 |
| Adam Gilchrist (AUS) | 72 | Sri Lanka | Melbourne | 28 Apr 2007 |
Mathew Hayden (AUS) – 66 balls vs South Africa in 2007
Matthew Hayden registered the 6th fastest World Cup century. He made it off 66 balls against South Africa in March 2007 in Basseterre. He made 101 off 68 balls, with 14 fours and four sixes. Australia made 377/6 and dismissed South Africa by 294 runs to win the game by 83 runs. Ricky Ponting (91) and Michael Clarke (92) also played well.
Eoin Morgan (ENG) – 57 balls vs Afghanistan in 2019
Former English captain Eoin Morgan, who led his country to 2019 World Cup win, smashed the 5th fastest ton in the same edition. He made a 57-ball hundred against Afghanistan in the 24th game in Manchester. Batting first, England made a huge total of 397/6 in the first inning. Morgan made 148 off 77 balls, with four boundaries and 17 sixes. Afghanistan reached 247/8 in their chase and lost the game by 150 runs.
AB de Villiers (SA) – 52 balls vs West Indies in 2015
The fastest 150 in ODIs belongs to AB de Villiers, and he did it against the West Indies in the 2015 World Cup. This was the 19th game of the tournament in Sydney. South Africa made 408/5 in the first inning, and De Villiers made a 64-ball 150 and scored 162 not out from 66 balls, with 17 fours and 8 sixes. West Indies were bowled out for 151 runs, and lost the game by 257 runs.
Glenn Maxwell (AUS) – 51 balls vs Sri Lanka in 2015
Glenn Maxwell registered the third fastest century in World Cup history. He smashed a 51-ball hundred against Sri Lanka in the 32nd game of the tournament in Sydney. Australia made 376/9, powered by Maxwell’s century. He made 102 off 53 balls, with 10 fours and four sixes. Sri Lanka got all out for 312 runs and lost the game by 64 runs.
Kevin O’Brien (IRE) – 50 balls vs England in 2011
The second fastest and probably most entertaining century came from the bat of former Irish all-rounder Kevin O’Brien in a high-voltage clash against England in the 2011 ODI World Cup. This was the 15th game of the edition in Bengaluru. England made 327/8 in the first inning. It was a big inning, and not many expected Ireland’s win. But Kevin smashed a 50-ball ton and made 113 off 63 balls, with 13 fours and six maximums, to help his team reach 329/7 in 49.1 overs to win the game.