Top 10 Fastest Century in T20 History (IPL & International 2026 List)
T20 cricket is all about speed, power, and adrenaline. The days of scoring a 60-ball hundred are over. Today, batters are smashing records, reaching three figures in under 30 balls. But who actually holds the record for the fastest century in T20 history?
Is it Chris Gayle? Or has a new star from a smaller nation taken the crown? In this updated guide for 2026, we rank the fastest hundreds in T20 Internationals (T20I) and the IPL, separating the myths from the official stats.
1. Sahil Chauhan (Estonia) – 27 Balls (The World Record)
- Balls to 100: 27
- Match: Estonia vs Cyprus (2024)
- The Innings: You might not expect the fastest century in T20 to come from Estonia, but Sahil Chauhan shocked the world in 2024. He smashed 18 sixes in a single innings to break the previous record, proving that cricket is truly a global game now. It was a knock of pure destruction that put Associate cricket on the map.
2. Chris Gayle (West Indies/RCB) – 30 Balls
- Balls to 100: 30
- Match: RCB vs Pune Warriors (IPL 2013)
- The IPL Record: The “Universe Boss” played the greatest T20 knock of all time at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. His 175* remains the highest individual score, and his 30-ball ton is still the fastest century in T20 franchise cricket history. Bowlers were begging for mercy that day.
3. Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals) – 32 Balls
- Balls to 100: 32
- Match: Delhi vs Himachal (Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy)
- The Indian Record: Before he became an India captain, Pant destroyed the Himachal attack in a domestic T20 game. This remains the fastest hundred by an Indian cricketer in the format. It was the innings that fast-tracked him into the national team.
4. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (Namibia) – 33 Balls
- Balls to 100: 33
- Match: Namibia vs Nepal (2024)
- The Context: Just months before Chauhan’s record, Loftie-Eaton set the stage on fire with a 33-ball blitz. It showed that the fastest century in T20 list is now dominated by Associate nations who play fearless cricket.
5. Kushal Malla (Nepal) – 34 Balls
- Balls to 100: 34
- Match: Nepal vs Mongolia (Asian Games 2023)
- The Historic Game: In the same match where Nepal scored 300+, Kushal Malla announced himself to the world. For a short time, this was the world record.
Full List: Fastest Century in T20 (Top 10 Combined)
Here is the combined leaderboard for International, IPL, and Domestic cricket as of 2026.
| Rank | Player | Team | Balls Faced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sahil Chauhan | Estonia | 27 |
| 2 | Chris Gayle | RCB (IPL) | 30 |
| 3 | Rishabh Pant | Delhi | 32 |
| 4 | Wihan Lubbe | North West | 33 |
| 5 | J. Loftie-Eaton | Namibia | 33 |
| 6 | Kushal Malla | Nepal | 34 |
| 7 | David Miller | South Africa | 35 |
| 8 | Rohit Sharma | India | 35 |
| 9 | Yusuf Pathan | Rajasthan Royals | 37 |
| 10 | Travis Head | SRH (IPL) | 39 |
For a deep dive into every record-breaking match stats, you can verify these numbers on the official ESPNcricinfo Records page.
The Future Stars: Who Will Break the Record?
The record of 27 balls seems impossible, but the new generation is getting closer. With “Impact Players” in the IPL, batters are attacking from ball one. We are entering an era where a 25-ball century is mathematically possible.
Keep an eye on Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The 14-year-old prodigy recently scored a record-breaking 58-ball century in youth cricket. While not the fastest century in T20 yet, his aggressive style suggests he could be the one to challenge the barrier in the future.
If you want to know more about upcoming stars like Vaibhav, check our Top 10 Young Cricketers 2026 List.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who has the fastest century in IPL?
Chris Gayle holds the record with a 30-ball century against Pune Warriors India in 2013.
Who has the fastest century in T20 International (T20I)?
Sahil Chauhan from Estonia holds the world record with a 27-ball century scored against Cyprus in 2024.
Conclusion
The race for the fastest century in T20 is never-ending. From Chris Gayle’s muscle power to Sahil Chauhan’s surprise blitz, the format keeps evolving. With the T20 World Cup 2026 approaching, we might see a 25-ball hundred sooner than we think.
Who do you think will break the 27-ball record? Tell us in the comments!
