Fastest century in T20 international cricket: Sahil Chauhan’s 27 balls

The fastest century in T20 internationals took 27 balls, by Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan against Cyprus in 2024. India’s Abhishek Sharma holds the full-member record with 30 balls against Afghanistan in September 2026.

The fastest century in T20 international cricket took 27 balls, by Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan against Cyprus in Episkopi on 17 June 2024. Turkey’s Muhammad Fahad is second on 29 balls (2025), and India’s Abhishek Sharma is third on 30 balls, against Afghanistan in Delhi on 17 September 2026.

Abhishek’s is the fastest by a batter from a full-member nation. That mark had been 35 balls from 2017, shared by David Miller and Rohit Sharma, until New Zealand’s Finn Allen took 33 balls against South Africa in March 2026.

Fastest century in T20 international cricket

Balls taken to reach three figures: every men’s T20I hundred reached in 35 balls or fewer, complete to 30 September 2026. Ties are ordered by date. Source: ESPNcricinfo, checked ball by ball against Cricsheet.

Rank	Player	Team	Balls	Opponent	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

These are balls taken to reach 100, not the length of the innings. The two are often confused. Sahil Chauhan’s 27-ball hundred sits inside an unbeaten 144 from 41 balls; Finn Allen’s is the same number either way, because he finished on exactly 100 not out from 33 balls.

Sahil Chauhan’s 27-ball century against Cyprus

In the second T20I of a six-match series in Episkopi, Cyprus made 191 for 7. Batting at No. 4, Sahil Chauhan reached his hundred in 27 balls and finished 144 not out from 41, with 18 sixes and six fours, and Estonia won by six wickets.

Muhammad Fahad’s 29-ball century against Bulgaria

In a tri-nation series in Sofia on 12 July 2025, Turkey’s Muhammad Fahad reached three figures in 29 balls and made 120 from 34, with ten fours and 12 sixes. Turkey were bowled out for 237 and dismissed Bulgaria for 178 to win by 59 runs.

Abhishek Sharma’s 30-ball century against Afghanistan

In the third T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on 17 September 2026, Abhishek Sharma reached his hundred in 30 balls and finished on 108 from 34, with nine fours and 11 sixes. India made 221 for 7, bowled Afghanistan out for 94 and won by 127 runs to complete a 3-0 sweep. It is the fastest T20I hundred by a full-member batter and the fastest by an Indian, taking the record from Rohit Sharma.

Finn Allen’s 33-ball century against South Africa

Chasing 170 at Eden Gardens on 4 March 2026, New Zealand did not need 13 overs. Allen finished 100 not out from 33 balls with ten fours and eight sixes, a strike rate of 303, and Tim Seifert made 58 from 33 at the other end. New Zealand reached 173 for 1 in 12.5 overs and won by nine wickets after South Africa had posted 169 for 8.

It was the first T20I hundred by a full-member batter in fewer than 35 balls. Abhishek Sharma lowered that mark to 30 six months later.

Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton’s 33-ball century against Nepal

In a tri-series match at Kirtipur in February 2024, Namibia’s Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton reached his hundred in 33 balls before being dismissed for 101 from 36. Namibia made 206 for 4, bowled Nepal out for 186 and won by 20 runs.

Sikandar Raza’s 33-ball century against Gambia

At a T20 World Cup sub-regional qualifier in Nairobi in October 2024, Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza reached his hundred in 33 balls and made 133 not out from 43. Zimbabwe’s 344 for 4 was a world-record T20I total at the time, and they won by 290 runs.

Kushal Malla’s 34-ball century against Mongolia

The 2023 Asian Games saw Nepal’s Kushal Malla reach three figures in 34 balls and finish on 137 not out from 50. Nepal posted 314 for 3, dismissed Mongolia for 41 and won by 273 runs.

David Miller and Rohit Sharma, 35 balls each in 2017

Miller’s came first. Against Bangladesh at Potchefstroom in October 2017 he reached his hundred in 35 balls and finished 101 not out from 36; with Hashim Amla’s 85, South Africa made 224 for 4 and won by 83 runs.

Rohit Sharma equalled it two months later, against Sri Lanka at Indore in December 2017. He went on to 118 from 43 balls, KL Rahul made 89 from 49, and India’s 260 for 5 stood as their highest T20I total for almost seven years. India won by 88 runs.

What about Chris Gayle’s 30-ball hundred?

It was not a T20 international. Chris Gayle reached a hundred in 30 balls for Bengaluru against Pune in the Indian T20 League in 2013, which is still the league record, but franchise cricket does not count towards T20I records. Across all T20 cricket, four batters have since gone faster, Sahil Chauhan among them.

How common is a T20I hundred?

There have been 264 hundreds in men’s T20 internationals since the format began in 2005. Only 11 of them came in an innings of 40 balls or fewer, and 199 of the 264 batters faced more than 50 balls.

Fastest century in T20 international cricket: quick answers

Who has scored the fastest century in T20 internationals? Sahil Chauhan of Estonia, in 27 balls against Cyprus in June 2024.

Who is the fastest from a full-member nation? Abhishek Sharma of India, in 30 balls against Afghanistan in September 2026.

What is the fastest T20I hundred by an Indian? Abhishek Sharma’s 30 balls. Rohit Sharma’s 35 balls against Sri Lanka at Indore in 2017 was the Indian record before it.

Is Chris Gayle’s 30-ball hundred a T20I record? No. It came in the Indian T20 League, not an international.

How many T20I hundreds have been scored? 264, to 30 September 2026.

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Photo credit: Alamy