Every format of the game has its own definition of “fast,” and the record books for Tests, ODIs and T20Is tell three very different stories about how batting has evolved.
## Test Cricket: Brendon McCullum’s 54-Ball Assault
The fastest century in Test cricket belongs to Brendon McCullum, who reached three figures in just 54 balls against Australia in 2015-16, in what was also his farewell Test. Given Test cricket’s traditional emphasis on occupation of the crease, a 54-ball hundred remains one of the format’s most extraordinary outliers — a genuinely different kind of innings from the surrounding record books.
## ODI Cricket: AB de Villiers Redefines the Format
AB de Villiers set the ODI record with a 31-ball century against West Indies, part of an innings that finished with 149 runs off just 44 balls at a strike rate above 338. It remains widely regarded as the most destructive innings the 50-over format has produced, combining raw power hitting with genuinely unconventional shot-making.
## T20 Internationals: A Record Still Being Rewritten
The T20I record has changed hands repeatedly in recent years as the format continues to push boundaries:
– **Sahil Chauhan (Estonia)** — 27 balls, the current record, set against Cyprus, also matching the record for most sixes in a T20I innings
– **Muhammad Fahad (Turkey)** — 29 balls, the second-fastest ever
– **Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (Namibia)** — 33 balls, against Nepal
– **Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe)** — 33 balls, against Gambia
– **Kushal Malla (Nepal)** — 34 balls, against Mongolia at the Asian Games
– **David Miller and Rohit Sharma** — both at 35 balls, with Rohit’s innings the fastest by any Indian batter in the format
Notably, six of the ten fastest T20I centuries ever recorded have come from associate or emerging cricket nations rather than the traditional Test-playing powers — a reflection of how quickly the format has spread globally.
## The IPL’s Own Benchmark
Beyond international cricket, Chris Gayle’s 30-ball century for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in 2013 remains the fastest hundred in IPL history, part of an innings that finished with an unbeaten 175. That record has stood since 2013 despite the explosion of power-hitting across subsequent [IPL seasons](/ipl-2026-match-schedule-and-fixtures) — a reminder of just how far ahead of its time Gayle’s innings was.
## Why These Records Matter
Fastest-century lists offer a useful lens on how each format has evolved. Test cricket’s record has barely moved in the modern era, while the T20I record has been broken and rebroken within the space of a few years — evidence of a format still finding its ceiling. As franchise leagues worldwide continue producing explosive young talents, similar to the story behind the [2026 IPL Orange Cap race](/ipl-orange-cap-race-updates), do not expect the T20I record to stay put for long.