4 Indian Players Who Have Smashed The Fastest Hundred In T20 Cricket

T20 cricket started in the early 2000s and in over a decade, it is one of the most played formats across the world. Other than T20I matches at the international level, many franchise cricket T20 leagues are also played in major-cricket playing nations.

Afghanistan Premier League, Indian Premier League, Bangladesh Premier League, The Big Bash League, Manzi Super League, Sri Lanka Premier League, Pakistan Super League, and Caribbean Super League are some of the most popular franchisees T20 cricket leagues played around the world.

Since T20 matches only observe 20 overs in an innings, batsmen always seek to smash runs at a high strike rate so as to accumulate maximum runs for the team. As a result, T20 matches often witness quickfire knocks with players reaching half-centuries and centuries in very fewer deliveries. Here we take a glance at such records. Below are 4 Indian players who have smashed the fastest hundred in T20 cricket.

4 Indian Players Who Have Smashed The Fastest Hundred In T20 Cricket

Mohammed Azharuddeen- 37 Balls (Kerala vs Mumbai, SMAT 2021)

Mohammed Azharuddeen is a domestic Indian cricketer who plays for Kerala. He takes the 4th spot in the list of Indian players with the fastest century in T20 cricket. During Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021, the Kerala batsman smashed a hundred off just 37 balls in a match against Mumbai in January 2021.

Batting first, Mumbai scored 196/7 in 20 overs with collective efforts from the top three batsmen. For Kerala, Robin Uthappa and Mohammed Azharuddeen opened the innings.

The wicketkeeper-batsman Azharuddeen scored unbeaten 137 runs off 54 balls to bag the victory for Kerala. The 27-year-old reached his fifty in just 20 balls and hundred off 37 balls during his quickfire knock. He smashed 9 fours and 11 sixes during his time on the crease. Reaching 201/2 in just 15.5 overs, Kerala won the match comfortably by 8 wickets.

Yusuf Pathan- 37 Balls (Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians, IPL 2010)

Yusuf Pathan takes the 3rd spot in this list with a century off 37 balls in T20 cricket. Pathan’s quickfire century arrived in IPL 2010, the third season of the Indian Premier League. The right-handed batsman was part of the Rajasthan Royals in the tournament. During Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals encounter at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in March 2010, the former scored 212/6 batting first.

Rajasthan Royals had to chase a gigantic target in 20 overs and Pathan executed his best efforts. Batting at no.5, Pathan reached his fifty in just 21 balls and smashed a century off just 37 balls. He shattered 9 fours and 8 sixes during his knock which is still considered as one of the best in IPL history.

Pathan got run-out at the score of 100 and could not pull off a victory for his team. Rajasthan Royals eventually piled up 208/7 on the scoreboard and lost the match by just 4 runs.

Rohit Sharma- 35 Balls (India vs Sri Lanka T20I, 2017)

Rohit Sharma is the second fastest Indian player to smash a hundred in T20 cricket. Rohit Sharma smashed a century off just 35 deliveries in a T20 international match against Sri Lanka. During India vs Sri Lanka T20I encounter in December 2017, India smashed a mammoth total of 260/5 in 20 overs. Batting as an opener, the right-handed batsman Sharma shattered 118 runs off just 43 balls.

India’s limited-overs vice-captain reached his half-century in just 23 balls and century in just 35 balls. During his knock, the 34-year-old smacked 12 fours and 10 sixes and owned a strike rate of 274+. India won the match by 88 runs after bowling out Sri Lanka for 172. Rohit Sharma was adjudged player of the match for his sensational century.

Rishabh Pant (32 Balls) – (Delhi vs Himachal Pradesh, SMAT 2018)

Rishabh Pant steals the top spot in this list. The Indian wicketkeeper has smashed a century in just 32 balls in T20 cricket. The right-handed batsman smashed the quickfire knock during Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2018. In the Delhi vs Himachal Pradesh match, the latter batted first and put up 144/8 on the scoreboard in 20 overs.

While chasing, Gautam Gambhir and Rishabh Pant opened the batting for Delhi. Pant smacked unbeaten 116 runs off 38 balls, reaching his century in just 32 deliveries. The left-handed batsman hit 8 fours and 12 sixes during his knock at a strike rate of 305+. Delhi reached 148/0 in just 11.4 overs and won the match by 10 wickets.