The T20 cricket is one of the most followed among fans. Cricket lovers enjoy watching the batsmen hit big sixes and boundaries. Because the batter gets the license to go berserk and go after the bowlers. With only 120 balls to play in an innings, they need to add more and more runs. But sometimes we have seen some extraordinary performances from the batters.
There are nine such instances when a batsman scores a century in the T20 World Cup. Scoring a century always puts the side in an almost winning position, but it is very difficult to reach the 100-run mark in the shorter format. So in this article we will discuss the fastest century hit by a batsman in the T20 World Cup.
3. Brendon McCullum (100 off 51 balls) against Bangladesh in the 2012 World Cup
The former New Zealand skipper, Brendon McCullum, is third on this list. McCullum, who is known for his big hits and scoring quick runs, scored this century against Bangladesh in the 2016 World Cup. Batting first, the Kiwis scored 191/3 in their 20 overs. McCullum struck a 51-ball century to help his team get to a big score.
He ended the innings with 124 runs off 58 balls, including 11 boundaries and seven maximums, at a strike rate of 212.06. To date, this is the highest score by any batter in the T20 World Cup.
2. Chris Gayle (100 off 50 balls) against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup
The second fastest century in the ICC event also belongs to the “Universe Boss”. The left-hander is the only player in the world to score two centuries in T20 World Cup. The century came in the very first edition, against South Africa. This was the first ever century hit in the ICC event by any player.
Batting first, the West Indies posted a huge score of 205/6 in their 20 overs. Chris Gayle scored a fantastic century in that match off just 50 balls. He scored 117 runs off just 57 balls, including seven boundaries and ten maximums. However, West Indies lost that match courtesy of a brilliant knock of 90* from Herschelle Gibbs. But Gayle was named “Man of the Match.”
1. Chris Gayle (100 off 47 balls) against England in the 2016 Event
Chris Gayle is definitely the most ferocious hitter in the game of cricket that the game has ever seen. There is hardly any record that Gayle doesn’t have under his name. He also tops the charts on this list. The fastest century in the T20 World Cup came from the bat of the “Universe Boss”.
This was the match against England. When batting first, the English team posted 182/6 runs in their 20 overs. Chasing the target, the West Indies lost the opener, Johnson Charles, in the very first over. But then Gayle’s storm took the match single-handedly away from England. The southpaw smashed a 47-ball century and won the match for his team. He remained unbeaten on 100* off 48 balls, including five fours and 11 maximums.
Fastest 100 in T20 World Cup
| Player | Runs | Balls | Against | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Gayle (West Indies) | 100* | 48 | Bangladesh | 2007 |
| Chris Gayle (West Indies) | 117 | 57 | South Africa | 2012 |
| Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) | 123 | 58 | England | 2016 |
| Rilee Rossouw (South Africa) | 109 | 56 | Bangladesh | 2022 |
| Ahmed Shehzad (Pakistan) | 111* | 62 | Bangladesh | 2014 |
| Suresh Raina (India) | 101 | 60 | South Africa | 2010 |
| Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh) | 111* | 63 | Oman | 2016 |
| Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) | 100 | 64 | Zimbabwe | 2010 |
| Alex Hales (England) | 116* | 64 | Sri Lanka | 2014 |
| Jos Buttler (England) | 101* | 67 | Sri Lanka | 2021 |