Fastest Century in T20 World Cup History

In the high-octane world of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, a century is a rare and prestigious milestone. However, some batters don’t just reach the three-figure mark; they demolish it. Whether it is the raw power of Chris Gayle or the clinical precision of Brendon McCullum, the race for the fastest century in T20 World Cup history has defined the evolution of the shortest format.

As we head into 2026, these records stand as a testament to the "hit-from-ball-one" philosophy that dominates modern cricket. In this guide, we break down the fastest centuries ever recorded in the tournament’s history, updated with insights from the most recent Cricket Tournaments.

The Record Holder: Chris Gayle (47 Balls vs England, 2016)

The "Universe Boss," Chris Gayle, holds the undisputed record for the fastest century in Men’s T20 World Cup history. During the 2016 edition, Gayle dismantled the English bowling attack at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, reaching his hundred in just 47 deliveries.

His innings was a display of pure intimidation, featuring 11 towering sixes and 5 boundaries. This knock didn't just break the record; it secured West Indies a vital victory on their path to becoming the first-ever two-time champions.

Top 10 Fastest Centuries in Men’s T20 World Cup (Updated 2026)

While many players have crossed the 100-run mark, only a handful have done so at a strike rate that leaves the opposition breathless. Interestingly, no player managed to score a century during the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, meaning these legendary records remain untouched for another year.

Rank	Player	Balls	Opponent	Venue	Year
1	Chris Gayle	47	England	Mumbai	2016
2	Chris Gayle	50	South Africa	Johannesburg	2007
3	Brendon McCullum	51	Bangladesh	Kandy	2012
4	Rilee Rossouw	52	Bangladesh	Sydney	2022
5	Ahmed Shehzad	58	Bangladesh	Dhaka	2014
6	Suresh Raina	59	South Africa	St Lucia	2010
7	Alex Hales	60	Sri Lanka	Chittagong	2014
8	Tamim Iqbal	60	Oman	Dharamsala	2016
9	Glenn Phillips	61	Sri Lanka	Sydney	2022
10	Jos Buttler	67	Sri Lanka	Sharjah	2021

Direct Answer: The fastest century in Men's T20 World Cup history was scored by Chris Gayle in 47 balls against England in 2016. He also holds the second-fastest record (50 balls), set during the inaugural 2007 tournament.

Deep Dive: The Standout Performers

1. Chris Gayle (West Indies) – The Dual Record Holder

Gayle is the only player with two centuries in the tournament's history. His 50-ball ton in 2007 was the first-ever T20 World Cup century, setting a benchmark that he himself eventually surpassed nine years later.

2. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) – 51 Balls

In 2012, McCullum produced one of the most violent displays of hitting against Bangladesh. His 123 remains the highest individual score in Men’s T20 World Cup history, highlighting his role as a T20 pioneer.

3. Rilee Rossouw (South Africa) – 52 Balls

The most recent entry into the top tier, Rossouw’s 52-ball century in 2022 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (one of the world's premier Cricket Stadiums), showed that even with larger boundaries, modern power-hitters can exploit the powerplay to devastating effect.

Expert Insight: Why This Record Is So Hard to Break

At Cric Predictor, our analysts have noted a shifting trend in T20 World Cup batting. While the game is faster than ever, T20 World Cups are often played on slower, high-pressure pitches compared to domestic leagues like the IPL.

Pressure Cooker Environment: In a World Cup, wickets are more valuable. Batters often take 5–10 balls to "look in" before exploding.
Varied Conditions: From the spin-friendly tracks of the Caribbean to the bouncy pitches in Australia, consistency is harder to maintain than in bilateral series.
Bowling Evolution: The rise of mystery spinners and high-pace death specialists has made the middle overs (7–15) much harder for batters to dominate.

Gayle’s 47-ball record has stood for nearly a decade, surviving multiple tournament editions, which speaks volumes about the sheer outlier nature of his 2016 performance.

T20 World Cup vs. General T20I Records

It is important to distinguish between "World Cup" records and "T20 International" (T20I) records. While Gayle’s 47-ball ton is the World Cup peak, the overall T20I record is much faster, often set in bilateral series against Associate nations.

Fastest T20I Century: Sahil Chauhan (Estonia) – 27 balls (2024).
Fastest T20 World Cup Century: Chris Gayle (West Indies) – 47 balls (2016).

The gap exists because World Cup pressure and the quality of bowling attacks in ICC events significantly elevate the difficulty level.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Who has the fastest century in T20 World Cup for India? Suresh Raina holds the record for India, reaching his century in 59 balls against South Africa in 2010.

Q2: Did anyone score a century in the 2024 T20 World Cup? No. The 2024 edition was dominated by bowlers and tricky pitches; no batter reached the 100-run mark, with Nicholas Pooran (98) coming the closest.

Q3: Who scored the first century in T20 World Cup history? Chris Gayle scored the first-ever century in the very first match of the 2007 T20 World Cup against South Africa.

Q4: How many balls did Brendon McCullum take for his T20 WC century? McCullum reached his hundred in 51 balls against Bangladesh in 2012.

Q5: Is Chris Gayle still the record holder in 2026? Yes, Chris Gayle’s 47-ball century from 2016 remains the fastest in the history of the Men’s T20 World Cup as of January 2026.

Final Thoughts

The fastest century in T20 World Cup history is more than just a statistic; it represents the pinnacle of individual dominance on the global stage. While new stars like Sahil Chauhan and Sikandar Raza are pushing the boundaries in T20Is, the World Cup record remains the "Holy Grail" of power hitting.

Discover in-depth cricket statistics and insights on CricPredictor.com.