Scoring a century in a Twenty20 International is difficult enough. Reaching three figures in fewer than 40 deliveries is something entirely different.
The record for the fastest hundred in men’s T20Is currently belongs to Sahil Chauhan of Estonia, who reached 100 in only 27 balls against Cyprus on June 17, 2024.
Chauhan’s astonishing innings remains the quickest century in men’s T20 International cricket. He eventually finished unbeaten on 144 from 41 balls, hitting 18 sixes during his record-breaking performance. Guinness World Records also recognises his 27-ball century as the fastest men’s T20 International hundred.
The fastest-century list received another major update on September 17, 2026, when India’s Abhishek Sharma smashed a 30-ball hundred against Afghanistan in New Delhi.
Abhishek’s century moved him to third place overall while making him the fastest Indian and the fastest batter to score a T20I hundred against a Test-playing nation.
Here is the updated list of the fastest hundreds in men’s T20I cricket.
Fastest Hundreds in Men’s T20Is – Updated List
| Rank | Player | Team | Balls to 100 | Opposition | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sahil Chauhan | Estonia | 27 | Cyprus | 2024 |
| 2 | Muhammad Fahad | Turkey | 29 | Bulgaria | 2025 |
| 3 | Abhishek Sharma | India | 30 | Afghanistan | 2026 |
| 4= | Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton | Namibia | 33 | Nepal | 2024 |
| 4= | Sikandar Raza | Zimbabwe | 33 | Gambia | 2024 |
| 4= | Finn Allen | New Zealand | 33 | South Africa | 2026 |
| 7 | Kushal Malla | Nepal | 34 | Mongolia | 2023 |
| 8= | David Miller | South Africa | 35 | Bangladesh | 2017 |
| 8= | Rohit Sharma | India | 35 | Sri Lanka | 2017 |
| 8= | Sudesh Wickramasekara | Czech Republic | 35 | Turkey | 2019 |
| 8= | Kushal Bhurtel | Nepal | 35 | China | 2026 |
The ICC’s latest list places Chauhan first, Muhammad Fahad second and Abhishek Sharma third, followed by the three 33-ball centuries of Loftie-Eaton, Sikandar Raza and Finn Allen.
1. Sahil Chauhan – 27 Balls vs Cyprus
Team: Estonia
Opposition: Cyprus
Date: June 17, 2024
Balls to Century: 27
Final Score: 144*
Sahil Chauhan holds the outright record for the fastest century in men’s T20 International cricket.
Playing for Estonia against Cyprus at Episkopi, Chauhan reached his hundred from only 27 deliveries.
He eventually smashed:
144 not out from 41 balls
His innings included an extraordinary 18 sixes, helping Estonia successfully chase their target.
The performance did more than establish a T20I record. Guinness World Records states that Chauhan’s 27-ball century also surpassed Chris Gayle’s famous 30-ball IPL hundred as the fastest century in senior T20 cricket at the time.
Sahil Chauhan’s Record
100 in 27 balls
That means his first 100 runs effectively came at a strike rate of more than 370.
Even by modern T20 standards, that is an extraordinary level of scoring.
2. Muhammad Fahad – 29 Balls vs Bulgaria
Team: Turkey
Opposition: Bulgaria
Year: 2025
Balls to Century: 29
Turkey’s Muhammad Fahad became only the second man to score a T20I century in fewer than 30 deliveries.
Fahad reached his century from 29 balls against Bulgaria in Sofia in July 2025.
His innings placed him directly behind Sahil Chauhan in the all-time rankings.
Fahad finished with 120 runs, establishing one of the fastest scoring performances in international T20 cricket.
3. Abhishek Sharma – 30 Balls vs Afghanistan
Team: India
Opposition: Afghanistan
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
Date: September 17, 2026
Balls to Century: 30
Final Score: 108 from 34 balls
India opener Abhishek Sharma produced one of the most memorable T20I innings in Indian cricket history during the third T20I against Afghanistan.
Abhishek needed just 30 balls to complete his century.
He eventually scored:
108 runs from 34 balls
His innings included:
- 9 fours
- 11 sixes
- 30-ball century
- 16-ball half-century
Abhishek was dismissed for 108, but not before rewriting several records.
Fastest T20I Hundred by an Indian
Before Abhishek’s innings, India’s fastest T20I century belonged to Rohit Sharma, who reached his hundred from 35 balls against Sri Lanka in 2017.
Abhishek improved that record by five deliveries.
Previous Indian Record
Rohit Sharma – 35 balls
New Indian Record
Abhishek Sharma – 30 balls
BCCI confirmed that Abhishek became the fastest Indian men’s batter to reach a T20I century.
Fastest T20I Century Against a Test-Playing Nation
Abhishek’s achievement is even more significant when the opposition is considered.
His 30-ball hundred against Afghanistan is the fastest men’s T20I century scored against a Test-playing/Full Member nation.
The two faster overall centuries—Sahil Chauhan’s 27-ball effort and Muhammad Fahad’s 29-ball hundred—came in matches involving Associate teams.
4. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton – 33 Balls vs Nepal
Team: Namibia
Opposition: Nepal
Year: 2024
Balls to Century: 33
Final Score: 101 from 36 balls
Namibia’s Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton briefly held the world record for the fastest men’s T20I century.
He smashed a 33-ball hundred against Nepal in Kirtipur on February 27, 2024.
Loftie-Eaton finished on 101 from only 36 deliveries, hitting 11 fours and eight sixes.
At that time, he broke Kushal Malla’s previous record of 34 balls.
His world record did not last long, however, as Sahil Chauhan produced his 27-ball century a few months later.
5. Sikandar Raza – 33 Balls vs Gambia
Team: Zimbabwe
Opposition: Gambia
Year: 2024
Balls to Century: 33
Zimbabwe star Sikandar Raza also reached a T20I hundred in only 33 balls.
Raza achieved the milestone against Gambia in Nairobi in October 2024.
He eventually finished unbeaten on 133 and joined Loftie-Eaton among the fastest century-makers in men’s international T20 cricket.
His innings was particularly significant because it came while captaining Zimbabwe.
6. Finn Allen – 33 Balls vs South Africa
Team: New Zealand
Opposition: South Africa
Year: 2026
Balls to Century: 33
New Zealand power-hitter Finn Allen joined the 33-ball group during the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.
Allen reached his century from just 33 deliveries against South Africa in Kolkata.
At the time, it was the fastest men’s T20I hundred against a Full Member nation and also the fastest century in Men’s T20 World Cup history.
That Full Member record was subsequently broken by Abhishek Sharma’s 30-ball century against Afghanistan in September 2026.
7. Kushal Malla – 34 Balls vs Mongolia
Team: Nepal
Opposition: Mongolia
Venue: Hangzhou
Year: 2023
Balls to Century: 34
Nepal’s Kushal Malla produced a historic performance during the 2023 Asian Games.
Malla reached his century in just 34 balls against Mongolia.
At the time, it was the fastest hundred ever recorded in men’s T20Is.
He eventually scored 137 not out from 50 deliveries.
His record was broken by Namibia’s Loftie-Eaton in February 2024, who reached three figures one delivery faster.
8. David Miller – 35 Balls vs Bangladesh
Team: South Africa
Opposition: Bangladesh
Year: 2017
Balls to Century: 35
For several years, South Africa’s David Miller was synonymous with the fastest T20I century record.
Miller smashed his hundred from only 35 deliveries against Bangladesh in Potchefstroom in October 2017.
He eventually finished unbeaten on 101 from 36 balls.
His record was extraordinary at the time and remained the benchmark among leading international teams for several years.
9. Rohit Sharma – 35 Balls vs Sri Lanka
Team: India
Opposition: Sri Lanka
Venue: Indore
Date: December 22, 2017
Balls to Century: 35
Final Score: 118
Just weeks after David Miller’s record-setting innings, Rohit Sharma matched the 35-ball century record.
Playing against Sri Lanka at Indore, Rohit reached his hundred from 35 deliveries.
He finished with:
118 runs from 43 balls
including 12 fours and 10 sixes.
Rohit’s innings stood as India’s fastest T20I century for nearly nine years.
That record finally fell on September 17, 2026, when Abhishek Sharma completed his hundred from only 30 balls.
10. Sudesh Wickramasekara – 35 Balls vs Turkey
Team: Czech Republic
Opposition: Turkey
Year: 2019
Balls to Century: 35
Czech Republic batter Sudesh Wickramasekara joined David Miller and Rohit Sharma in the 35-ball century club in 2019.
He scored an unbeaten 104 against Turkey, reaching three figures in 35 deliveries.
His innings remains among the quickest centuries in men’s T20I history.
Kushal Bhurtel Joins the 35-Ball Club in 2026
Nepal batter Kushal Bhurtel added another entry to the list during 2026.
Bhurtel reached his century from 35 balls against China on May 31, 2026, eventually scoring 129.
That means four notable innings now share the 35-ball mark:
David Miller – 35 balls
Rohit Sharma – 35 balls
Sudesh Wickramasekara – 35 balls
Kushal Bhurtel – 35 balls
Fastest T20I Hundred by a Full Member Batter
The overall record belongs to Sahil Chauhan, but cricket fans often separately compare players representing ICC Full Member nations.
On that measure, Abhishek Sharma currently holds the record.
| Player | Team | Balls | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | India | 30 | Afghanistan |
| Sikandar Raza | Zimbabwe | 33 | Gambia |
| Finn Allen | New Zealand | 33 | South Africa |
| David Miller | South Africa | 35 | Bangladesh |
| Rohit Sharma | India | 35 | Sri Lanka |
Abhishek’s 30-ball hundred is also the fastest century in a men’s T20I involving a batter facing another Test-playing nation.
Fastest T20I Century by an Indian
Indian batters have produced several rapid T20I hundreds.
Following Abhishek Sharma’s latest record, the leading performances include:
| Player | Balls to 100 | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | 30 | Afghanistan | 2026 |
| Rohit Sharma | 35 | Sri Lanka | 2017 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 37 | England | 2025 |
| Sanju Samson | 40 | Bangladesh | 2024 |
| Tilak Varma | 41 | South Africa | 2024 |
| Ishan Kishan | 42 | New Zealand | 2026 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 45 | Sri Lanka | 2023 |
Abhishek’s earlier 37-ball century against England had already placed him near the top of India’s list before his 30-ball innings moved him ahead of Rohit Sharma.
How Abhishek Sharma Reached His 30-Ball Hundred
Abhishek’s innings against Afghanistan was extraordinary from the beginning.
He raced to his first fifty from only 16 balls.
Rather than slowing down after reaching fifty, the Indian opener accelerated even further.
His second fifty required only 14 additional deliveries.
Abhishek Sharma’s Century Progression
50 runs – 16 balls
100 runs – 30 balls
Final score – 108 from 34 balls
The innings contained nine fours and 11 sixes.
India also reached 100 runs during the six-over Powerplay, setting a new team record.
Fastest Hundred vs Highest T20I Score: What’s the Difference?
These two cricket records are often confused.
The fastest T20I hundred measures how many deliveries a batter needs to reach 100.
For example:
Sahil Chauhan reached 100 in 27 balls.
Abhishek Sharma reached 100 in 30 balls.
The player’s final score is not what determines this particular record.
A batter could score 105 from 35 balls and another could score 150 from 45 balls; the first player would still have the faster century if he reached 100 in fewer deliveries.
Why Are T20I Hundreds Getting Faster?
Modern T20 batting has changed dramatically.
Batters now attack from the first over rather than spending several overs getting accustomed to conditions.
Several factors have contributed to increasingly rapid centuries.
Powerplay Aggression
Batters attempt to maximise the first six overs when only two fielders are permitted outside the inner circle.
Improved Bat Technology
Modern bats provide greater power while maintaining relatively light pickup.
Franchise Cricket Experience
Competitions such as the IPL, CPL, BBL, PSL, SA20 and The Hundred give international players extensive experience in attacking cricket.
Innovative Shot-Making
Reverse sweeps, ramps, scoops and other unconventional strokes allow modern batters to score in areas that were traditionally difficult to access.
Changing Batting Philosophy
Teams increasingly encourage players to prioritise strike rate rather than simply protecting their wickets.
Abhishek Sharma’s 2026 performance is a perfect example of this modern attacking approach.
Fastest Hundred in Men’s T20Is FAQs
Who has scored the fastest hundred in men’s T20Is?
Sahil Chauhan of Estonia holds the record. He reached his century from only 27 balls against Cyprus on June 17, 2024.
Who has scored the second-fastest T20I century?
Turkey’s Muhammad Fahad reached his century from 29 balls against Bulgaria in 2025.
Who has scored the third-fastest T20I hundred?
India’s Abhishek Sharma is third overall after scoring a 30-ball century against Afghanistan on September 17, 2026.
Who has the fastest T20I century for India?
Abhishek Sharma holds India’s record with a 30-ball hundred against Afghanistan in New Delhi in September 2026.
What was Rohit Sharma’s fastest T20I century?
Rohit Sharma reached his hundred from 35 balls against Sri Lanka at Indore in 2017.
He eventually scored 118 from 43 balls.
Who broke Rohit Sharma’s record for India’s fastest T20I hundred?
Abhishek Sharma broke Rohit’s record on September 17, 2026 by completing his hundred from only 30 deliveries.
Who has the fastest T20I hundred against a Test-playing nation?
Abhishek Sharma holds that record after scoring a 30-ball century against Afghanistan.
How many balls did Abhishek Sharma take to score 100?
Abhishek Sharma required only 30 balls to reach his hundred.
He eventually scored 108 from 34 balls.
How many sixes did Abhishek Sharma hit against Afghanistan?
Abhishek hit 11 sixes and nine fours during his 108-run innings.
Has anyone scored a T20I hundred in fewer than 30 balls?
Yes.
Sahil Chauhan scored one in 27 balls, while Muhammad Fahad reached his hundred in 29 balls.
Final Words
The race for the fastest hundred in men’s T20Is shows just how dramatically T20 batting has evolved.
Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan remains the overall record holder with his incredible 27-ball century against Cyprus, while Turkey’s Muhammad Fahad sits second with a 29-ball hundred.
India’s Abhishek Sharma is now third overall after his spectacular 30-ball century against Afghanistan on September 17, 2026. More importantly for Indian cricket, the knock broke Rohit Sharma’s long-standing 35-ball record and became the fastest T20I century by an Indian.
Current Top Three Fastest Men’s T20I Hundreds
1. Sahil Chauhan – 27 balls
2. Muhammad Fahad – 29 balls
3. Abhishek Sharma – 30 balls
With modern T20 cricket becoming increasingly aggressive, it may only be a matter of time before someone challenges the extraordinary 27-ball world record.
