By There is nothing more exciting than watching a cricket match, but one thing that makes the match more interesting is the batter scoring a ton. The crowd gets louder, bowlers start panicking, and suddenly every ball feels like it could disappear into the stands.
And when the madness turns into a century in record time? It is the moment everyone remembers forever: the bowler, the fans, and, most importantly, the batsman. There are several players who scored a hundred, but those who hit the fastest 100 in cricket history are the fearless few who rewrite records and rule the game like kings.
Let’s shed some light on the players who scored the fastest century in cricket history in different formats: ODI, T20 and Test matches (yes, even tests aren’t always slow).
Top 5 Fastest 100 in Cricket History: ODI Format
ODIs are supposed to be balanced, a combo of some patience and some aggression. But it didn’t matter to these players.
1- AB de Villiers
Smashing the fastest 100 in cricket history was just a game of 31 balls for AB de Villiers. And honestly, it looked like he was playing a different sport altogether.
Watching this inning was fun for cricket fans. Bowlers had no clue where to bowl, and good deliveries were getting punished.
This wasn’t just fast, this was unreal.
2- CJ Anderson
Before AB came along and rewrote history, CJ held the record of the fastest 100 in cricket history.
His game wasn’t anything fancy, but it was clean.
3- Shahid Afridi
Afridi made the fastest century in cricket history when he was a teen and relatively unknown.
He walks in and starts smashing sixes like there is no tomorrow. That inning didn’t just break records, but it introduced the world to ‘Boom Boom Afridi.’
4- Glenn Maxwell
Maxwell is known for doing the unexpected, time and time again, and this innings was a perfect example.
The bowler thought it was a great ball, but suddenly it turned in reverse, hitting for either four or six.
5- Asif Khan
The most recent entry to this list of the fastest 100 in cricket history is Asif Khan. In his performance, he showed how modern cricket continues to evolve.
Cricketers and matches like these make history.
| Rank | Player | Balls Taken | Score | Teams | Opponent | Year | Venue |
| 1 | AB de Villiers | 31 | 149 | South Africa | West Indies | 18/01/2015 | Johannesburg |
| 2 | CJ Anderson | 36 | 131* | New Zealand | West Indies | 01/01/2014 | Queenstown |
| 3 | Shahid Afridi | 37 | 102 | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | 01/01/2014 | Nairobi |
| 4 | Glenn Maxwell | 40 | 106 | Australia | Netherland | 25/10/2023 | Delhi |
| 5 | Asif Khan | 44 | 101 | UAE | Nepal | 16/03/2023 | Kirtipur |
Top 5 Fastest 100 in Cricket History: T20 Format
T20 is already fast-paced. Smashing the fastest hundred in T20 feels ridiculously quick.
1. Sahil Chauhan
Sahil Chauhan is an Estonian cricketer who grabbed attention with a blistering 144* off just 41 balls. He scored the fastest hundred in T20 with fearless stroke play and aggressive hitting, leaving the opponent stunned.
2. Muhammad Fahad
The second name on the list who hit the fastest T20 hundred is Muhammad Gahad. He is a player from Turkey, and his fastest hundred in T20 made him a valuable asset to the team.
3. Abhishek Sharma
Another Indian cricketer, after Rohit Sharma, to hammer the fastest hundred in T20 is Abhishek Sharma. He brought up 108 runs off 34 balls and a ton off just 30 balls, setting the record for the fastest T20 hundred for an Indian.
4. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton
He made headlines with his rapid 101 off 36 balls. Jan Nicol is recognised for an impressive batting style and the ability to dominate bowlers early in the innings.
5. Sikandar Raza
He is a seasoned all-rounder who always surprises fans with explosive batting. He scored 133* off 43 balls, put the opponent under immense pressure, and secured his place on the list of the fastest hundred in T20.
| Rank | Player | Balls Taken | Score | Teams | Opponent | Year | Venue |
| 1 | Sahil Chauhan | 27 | 144* (41) | Estonia | Cyprus | 17/06/2024 | Episkopi |
| 2 | Muhammad Fahad | 29 | 120 (34) | Turkey | Bulgaria | 12/07/2025 | Sofia |
| 3 | Abhishek Sharma | 30 | 108 (34) | India | Afganistan | 17/09/2026 | Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| 4 | Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton | 33 | 101 (36) | Namibia | Nepal | 27/02/2024 | Kirtipur |
| 5 | Sikandar Raza | 33 | 133* (43) | Zimbabwe | Gambia | 23/10/2024 | Nairobi (Ruaraka) |
Top 5 Fastest 100 in Cricket History: Test Format
Now, here is where things get interesting. The test format is supposed to be slow. Right? But not always. The match’s pace is what the players decide. The player decided to score the fastest 100 in test cricket, and so they did.
1- BB McCullum
Starting the list with BB McCullum. He scored the fastest 100 in cricket history.
It felt like he wanted everyone to remember what test cricket is about and how he changed the meaning.
2- IVA Richards
Sir Viv Richards dominated bowlers with confidence and style. His 56- ball century showed that aggressive batting isn’t just a modern invention. He was doing it even when T20 didn’t exist.
With the fastest 100 in cricket history, he didn’t score runs; he owned the game.
3- Misbah-ul-Haq
This name and match surprised a lot of cricket fans. He was often known for his calm and composed demeanour. And when he hit the fastest century in test, he left everyone stunned.
It was like a completely different version of him.
4- AC Gilchrist
This batsman was simple; his approach was that the ball was there to hit, and when he kept going, even the test bowlers couldn’t stop him.
His fastest 100 in cricket history is still one of the most entertaining innings.
5- JM Gregory
With this fastest century in test cricket, Jack (JM Gregory) proved that aggressive cricket has always existed.
He believed in attacking and making cricket entertaining.
| Rank | Player | Balls Taken | Team | Opponent | Venue |
| 1 | BB McCullum | 54 | New Zealand | Australia | Christchurch |
| 2 | IVA Richards | 56 | West Indies | England | St John’s |
| 3 | Misbah-ul-Haq | 56 | Pakistan | Australia | Abu Dhabi |
| 4 | AC Gilchrist | 57 | Australia | England | Perth |
| 5 | JM Gregory | 67 | Australia | South Africa | Johannesburg |
The Game Changers
What makes these centuries isn’t just the number of balls; it’s the mindset, skills and strategies.
Being in the field is more about confidence, taking risks, and decision-making. These players have not just hammered the fastest 100 in cricket history, but made bowlers rethink their plans.
And the most interesting part is that records like these never last forever.
New players come with a similar mindset: to set the stage on fire. They come fearless, play confidently and rewrite records. They are often known for ruling like a king.
The next time you’re watching a match and a batter starts going big, don’t blink an eye. You might miss a big thing happening.
