Top 5 players who have scored the fastest hundred in T20 International cricket for India
T20 cricket is often credited as the format that truly revolutionised the sport. The shorter format pushed the players to adapt to an aggressive approach. Batsmen learned the art of acceleration as the play showcased the batters actively aiming for boundaries. However, as exciting as the shorter format is, T20 cricket is a high-risk game for the batters. Over the years, there have been instances where a player aced the T20 gameplay with historic knocks. For India, the inaugural T20 World Cup champions, the history is as rich, with the fastest hundred in T20 international cricket for India scored in only 35 deliveries.
Top players with the fastest hundred in T20 International cricket for India
Reaching a three-figure cricket score is not as seamless in the shorter format. Unlike the longer formats where a batter can take his time at the crease to settle and find his rhythm, T20 demands prompt hitting. However, as tricky as the challenge of scoring a century in the shorter format is, some players have showcased instances of mastery. Smashing a ton at a rate suitable by T20 standards in the international format has been witnessed multiple times. In the Indian scenario, it’s the younger generation taking the onus. However, no matter how exciting the game of the next gen looks, it’s still a veteran ruling the charts as the top player with the fastest century in T20 international cricket for India.
1. Rohit Sharma: 100 off 35 deliveres - India vs Sri Lanka, 2017
The fastest hundred in T20 international cricket for India was hit by Rohit Sharma in 2017. Playing the 2nd T20I of a bilateral series against Sri Lanka, Rohit unleashed a manic knock against the visitors at Indore. Taking on the Sri Lankan attack that comprised Dushmantha Chameera and Akila Dananjaya among others, the Indian opener raced to his ton in just 35 deliveries, entering the record books for hitting the fastest T20 century for India. Rohit Sharma went on to score 118 runs off 43 deliveries, smashing 10 sixes and 12 fours in his historic innings. Almost a decade since Rohit’s carnage against Sri Lanka, the record is yet to be broken by an Indian player.
2. Abhishek Sharma: 100 off 37 deliveries - India vs England, 2025
Next in this list is the young Abhishek Sharma. Hailing from Punjab, Abhishek Sharma quietly marked a spot in the IPL, joining the Sunrisers Hyderabad camp after debuting with Delhi Capitals. However, it was not until IPL 2024 that the youngster truly captured the scene. Abhishek, along with Travis Head, rewrote the rules of T20 hitting in the season where SRH entered the finals. The youngster was handed his India cap on the back of his blazing IPL run, and Abhishek did not disappoint.
Emulating his quintessential powerplay carnage, the opener took on England earlier this year. Playing the fifth and final India vs England T20I in Mumbai, Abhishek hit the attack consisting of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood all around the Wankhede. The fixture, dated 2 February 2025, marked the 24-year-old reaching the three-figure mark in just 37 balls. Becoming the player with the second-fastest century in T20 for India, Abhishek went on to smash 135 off 54, batting at a strike rate of 250.00 against the visitors.
3. Sanju Samson - 100 off 40 deliveries - India vs Bangladesh, 2024
Struggling to find a cemented spot in the Indian T20 lineup, Samson showed his true capabilities after he was given a longer rope in the team following India’s 2024 T20 World Cup win. Banking on the assurance of his spot in the team, Samson brought the roof down against Bangladesh in Hyderabad. Opening for India, Samson struck 8 sixes and 11 fours to race to a score of 111 (47) against the visitors. Samson took only 40 deliveries to complete his ton, listing his name among the players with the fastest hundred in T20 cricket for India.
4. Tilak Varma - 100 off 41 deliveries - South Africa vs India, 2024
Another player from the younger generation, Tilak Varma showcased his flair against South Africa. Unlike the other players in the list, the Mumbai batsman registered his record-breaking century on an overseas ground. Batting at No.3 for India, taking the spot from India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma justified his selection with a knock for the ages. Playing in Johannesburg, the youngster smashed a 41-ball ton against South Africa in the 4th T20I of the series. This was also his second consecutive T20I century, as Tilak had scored 107 runs in the previous match at Centurion. Shortly after Sanju Samson became the first Indian batter to hit centuries in consecutive T20I innings, Tilak followed suit with his 120* off 47 in Johannesburg.
5. Suryakumar Yadav: 100 off 45 deliveries - India vs Sri Lanka, 2023
The current Indian T20I captain holds the concluding spot in the list of batters with the fastest T20 century for India. SKY, widely regarded as India’s very own 360-degree player, displayed his skills against Sri Lanka in 2023. Batting in the 3rd T20I of the series at Rajkot, Surya came out at No.4 to bat. The middle-order batsman thrashed the touring bowlers, racing to his T20 ton in just 45 deliveries. Suryakumar Yadav smashed 9 sixes and 7 fours, culminating his knock unbeaten at 112 off 51 deliveries.
