Introduction

T20 International cricket is a fast form of cricket. Each team gets only 20 overs. Because of this, batters need to score runs at a high speed. A century in T20I cricket is a big achievement. A century in only a few balls is even more special.

The Fastest Century in T20I is one of the most exciting records in cricket. The current men’s record belongs to Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan. He scored 100 runs in only 27 balls against Cyprus in 2024. He finished the match with 144 not out from 41 balls. His innings had 18 sixes and six fours.

Many other players have also scored very fast centuries. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton and Sikandar Raza both scored centuries from 33 balls. Kushal Malla scored one from 34 balls. David Miller and Rohit Sharma both reached 100 in 35 balls. More recently, India’s Abhishek Sharma scored a 30-ball century against Afghanistan in September 2026.

In this article, CricketTeamRecord covers the fastest T20I century record, the record holder, his famous innings, other top players, important matches and the latest updates.

What Is the Fastest Century in T20I?

The Fastest Century in T20I means the fastest time a batter has scored 100 runs in a men’s T20 International match. The record is based on the number of balls faced. Fewer balls mean a faster century.

At present, Sahil Chauhan holds the record. He reached 100 runs from only 27 balls. He made this record while playing for Estonia against Cyprus on 17 June 2024. His record broke the previous mark of 33 balls.

A fast century needs many boundaries. It also needs good timing and strong hitting. The batter must also avoid getting out. This makes a 27-ball century very rare.

Who Holds the Fastest Century in T20I Record?

Sahil Chauhan holds the men’s record for the fastest T20I century. He plays for Estonia. He is a right-handed batter. His famous innings came in a match against Cyprus in 2024.

Chauhan scored 144 not out from 41 balls. He hit 18 sixes and six fours. His strike rate was 351.21. He reached his century in only 27 balls.

Sahil Chauhan Quick Profile

Detail	Information
Player	Sahil Chauhan
Team	Estonia
Role	Batter
Batting	Right-handed
T20I Record	27-ball century
Highest T20I Score	144*
Famous Match	Estonia vs Cyprus
Year	2024

His innings became one of the biggest batting stories in T20I cricket. It also showed that players from associate teams can create major world records.

Sahil Chauhan’s Record-Breaking Match

The record came during a T20I match between Estonia and Cyprus. Cyprus batted first and scored 191 runs for seven wickets. Estonia needed 192 runs to win.

Sahil Chauhan played a huge role in the chase. He scored 144 not out from 41 balls. Estonia reached 194 for four in only 13 overs. They won the match with seven overs still left.

Chauhan’s innings was the main reason for the quick chase. He attacked the bowlers from the start. He kept hitting boundaries and did not allow the bowlers to settle.

How Did Sahil Chauhan Score 100 in 27 Balls?

Scoring 100 runs in 27 balls needs very fast batting. Chauhan used boundary hitting as his main weapon. He hit six fours and 18 sixes during his innings.

His 18 sixes gave him a huge number of runs. He also found the boundary with good timing. This helped him reach 100 very quickly. His final strike rate was 351.21.

The record was not only about power. Chauhan also had to pick the right balls. One bad shot could have ended his innings. He kept his control and continued to attack.

Sahil Chauhan’s 144-Run Innings

Chauhan did not stop after reaching his century. He continued to hit the ball hard. He finished with 144 not out from 41 balls.

His innings had 24 boundaries. Six were fours and 18 were sixes. The 18 sixes were also a men’s T20I record for one innings at that time.

The innings had a strike rate of 351.21. It was one of the most powerful batting displays in men’s T20I cricket.

Sahil Chauhan’s Batting Style

Sahil Chauhan plays attacking cricket. He looks for scoring chances early in his innings. He is also strong at hitting the ball over the boundary.

His record innings showed his power very clearly. He hit 18 sixes in 41 balls. He also kept attacking after reaching his century.

This style can bring many runs in T20 cricket. But it also has some risk. A batter can get out while trying to hit a big shot. Chauhan managed the risk well during his record innings.

Why Is a 27-Ball Century So Difficult?

A T20I century needs 100 runs. A batter must also stay at the crease for enough time. Scoring 100 from 27 balls gives very little room for mistakes.

The batter needs power, timing and good shot selection. The player must also find boundaries often. Dot balls can slow the scoring rate.

This is why very few players have scored a century in fewer than 35 balls. Sahil Chauhan’s 27-ball record is much faster than most T20I centuries.

Fastest Century in T20I: Top Players

Several players have scored very fast T20I centuries. Some of these records were made only months before Chauhan’s record.

Player	Team	Balls	Year
Sahil Chauhan	Estonia	27	2024
Abhishek Sharma	India	30	2026
Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton	Namibia	33	2024
Sikandar Raza	Zimbabwe	33	2024
Kushal Malla	Nepal	34	2023
David Miller	South Africa	35	2017
Rohit Sharma	India	35	2017

Sahil Chauhan remains at the top with his 27-ball century. Abhishek Sharma is the latest major player to enter the top part of this list after his 30-ball century in 2026.

Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton’s 33-Ball Century

Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton was the record holder before Sahil Chauhan. The Namibia batter scored a century from 33 balls against Nepal in February 2024.

He finished with 101 runs from 36 balls. His innings had 11 fours and eight sixes. He also took two wickets in the match. His record stayed at the top for only a few months.

Chauhan then broke the record by scoring his century six balls faster. This shows how quickly T20I batting records can change.

Sikandar Raza’s 33-Ball Century

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza also scored a century from 33 balls. He did it against Gambia in 2024.

Raza finished with 133 not out from 43 balls. He hit 15 sixes. His century was one of the main reasons Zimbabwe made a huge total of 344 for four.

Zimbabwe’s total was a men’s T20I record at that time. Raza’s 33-ball century was also one of the fastest in men’s T20I cricket.

Kushal Malla’s 34-Ball Century

Nepal’s Kushal Malla scored a 34-ball century against Mongolia in 2023. He finished the innings with 137 not out.

That match was full of records. Nepal scored a huge total. Dipendra Singh Airee also hit the fastest T20I fifty at that time. He reached 50 from only nine balls.

Malla’s 34-ball century was the fastest men’s T20I century before Loftie-Eaton broke the record in 2024.

David Miller’s 35-Ball Century

South Africa’s David Miller scored a T20I century from 35 balls in 2017. He did it against Bangladesh.

Miller finished with 101 not out. His innings was one of the fastest T20I centuries at that time.

The record has changed since then. But Miller’s innings remains an important part of T20I batting history.

Rohit Sharma’s 35-Ball Century

India’s Rohit Sharma also scored a century from 35 balls. He did it against Sri Lanka in 2017.

Rohit finished with 118 runs from 43 balls. He used his strong timing and powerful shots to score quickly.

His 35-ball century remains one of the fastest T20I hundreds by an Indian batter before Abhishek Sharma’s 30-ball century in 2026.

Abhishek Sharma’s 30-Ball Century

India’s Abhishek Sharma made a major entry into the fastest T20I century list in September 2026. He scored a century from 30 balls against Afghanistan in Delhi.

Abhishek finished with 108 runs from 34 balls. He hit 11 sixes. He reached his fifty from only 16 balls. His century came in the ninth over.

The innings became the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter. It was also the third-fastest men’s T20I century at that time.

Abhishek Sharma’s Batting Style

Abhishek Sharma is an attacking opening batter. He likes to put pressure on bowlers from the start.

His 2026 innings against Afghanistan showed this style. He scored 82 runs in the first match of the series. He then scored 108 in the third match.

His 30-ball century was full of big shots. He hit 11 sixes. His approach is simple. He looks to score quickly and keep the pressure on the bowlers.

Why Are T20I Centuries Getting Faster?

T20 cricket has changed the way batters play. Players now practice power hitting from a young age. They also learn many shots.

Batters use the sweep, pull, scoop and lofted shot. They also work on their fitness and hand speed.

The Powerplay also helps attacking batters. Only a limited number of fielders can stay outside the circle. This gives batters more space to hit boundaries.

The Role of the Powerplay

The first six overs of a T20 innings are called the Powerplay. During this time, fielding rules give batters more open areas to target.

Opening batters often try to use this time. They can hit the ball into gaps or over the fielders.

Abhishek Sharma is a good example. He reached 50 in only 16 balls during his 2026 century.

But a fast century needs more than a good Powerplay. The batter must keep scoring quickly after the first six overs.

The Role of Sixes

Sixes are very important in a fast T20I century. A six gives six runs from one ball. The batter does not need to run.

Sahil Chauhan hit 18 sixes in his record innings. Sikandar Raza hit 15 sixes during his 33-ball century.

Big hitting can help a batter reach 100 very quickly. But the batter still needs good timing and control.

Fastest Century in T20I vs T20 World Cup Record

The overall T20I record and the T20 World Cup record are different. The T20I record includes all men’s T20 International matches.

The T20 World Cup record only includes matches played in the World Cup. So, the two records should not be mixed.

In 2026, New Zealand’s Finn Allen scored a century from 33 balls in the T20 World Cup. It became the fastest century in Men’s T20 World Cup history.

Finn Allen’s 33-Ball World Cup Century

Finn Allen made the record against South Africa in the 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final. He scored 100 not out from 33 balls.

He hit 10 fours and eight sixes. New Zealand chased 170 and won by nine wickets. Allen’s century helped New Zealand reach the final.

His 33-ball century was the fastest in T20 World Cup history. It was not the fastest overall T20I century because Sahil Chauhan had already scored a 27-ball century.

What Does a Batter Need for a Fast Century?

A batter needs several skills to score a very fast century. Good timing is important. Power is also useful.

The batter must choose the right balls to attack. The player also needs good footwork and fast hands.

Confidence is another key part. T20 batting needs attacking shots. But too much risk can lead to a wicket.

The best fast innings usually have a good balance between risk and control.

Important Matches in Fast T20I History

The Estonia vs Cyprus match is the most important match for this record. Sahil Chauhan scored 144 not out and reached 100 in 27 balls.

The Namibia vs Nepal match is also important. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton scored a 33-ball century. Sikandar Raza later matched that record for Zimbabwe against Gambia.

The India vs Afghanistan match in September 2026 is another important match. Abhishek Sharma scored 108 from 34 balls and reached his century in 30 balls.

Fastest Century in T20I Record Table

Rank	Player	Team	Balls
1	Sahil Chauhan	Estonia	27
2	Abhishek Sharma	India	30
3	Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton	Namibia	33
3	Sikandar Raza	Zimbabwe	33
5	Kushal Malla	Nepal	34
6	David Miller	South Africa	35
6	Rohit Sharma	India	35

This table shows how fast the top players have scored their T20I centuries. The gap between first and second place is only three balls. That makes the record even more interesting.

Can the 27-Ball Record Be Broken?

Yes, the record can be broken in the future. A player would need to score 100 in 26 balls or fewer.

It will not be easy. The batter would need many boundaries and very few dot balls. The player must also stay at the crease.

T20 cricket is becoming faster each year. More young players are learning power hitting. So, another record-breaking innings may come in the future.

Latest Fastest Century in T20I Update

As of 23 September 2026, Sahil Chauhan still holds the men’s Fastest Century in T20I record. His record is a 27-ball century for Estonia against Cyprus in 2024.

The latest major change came from Abhishek Sharma. He scored a 30-ball century against Afghanistan on 17 September 2026.

His innings is now the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter. It is also the third-fastest men’s T20I century.

Conclusion

The Fastest Century in T20I is one of the most exciting records in cricket. Sahil Chauhan currently holds the men’s record. He scored 100 runs in only 27 balls for Estonia against Cyprus in 2024. He finished with 144 not out from 41 balls and hit 18 sixes.

Other players have also produced great T20I centuries. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton and Sikandar Raza scored their centuries in 33 balls. Kushal Malla reached 100 in 34 balls. David Miller and Rohit Sharma both scored 35-ball centuries.

In September 2026, Abhishek Sharma added another big performance. He scored a 30-ball century against Afghanistan. It became the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter.

T20 cricket continues to become faster. Players are using more power and new shots. This may lead to more records in the future. For now, Sahil Chauhan’s 27-ball century remains the fastest century in men’s T20I cricket.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has the fastest century in T20I?

Sahil Chauhan of Estonia has the current men’s record. He scored 100 runs in 27 balls against Cyprus in 2024.

How many balls did Sahil Chauhan take to score 100?

Sahil Chauhan took only 27 balls to reach his century. This is the current men’s T20I record.

What was Sahil Chauhan’s final score?

He scored 144 not out from 41 balls. He hit six fours and 18 sixes.

Who has the fastest T20I century for India?

Abhishek Sharma holds the record for the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter. He scored 100 from 30 balls against Afghanistan in September 2026.

Who scored a 33-ball T20I century?

Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton and Sikandar Raza both scored T20I centuries from 33 balls. Loftie-Eaton did it for Namibia, while Raza did it for Zimbabwe.

Who scored a 34-ball T20I century?

Kushal Malla of Nepal scored a 34-ball T20I century against Mongolia in 2023. He scored 137 not out in that match.

Who has the fastest century in T20 World Cup history?

Finn Allen of New Zealand holds the Men’s T20 World Cup record. He scored 100 not out from 33 balls against South Africa in the 2026 semi-final.

Can the fastest T20I century record be broken?

Yes. A player needs to score 100 in 26 balls or fewer to make a new record.

You may also want to read our guide to [Fastest Fifty in T20I].