The changing nature of the shortest format of the game have pushed the scores that were once thought impossible. On the other hand, the inception of IPL and the natural flair and adaptability of Indian batters have produced numerous centuries in the shortest format of white-ball cricket. These players have put their names forever in history books, thanks to their ability to own the opposition’s bowling attacks.
From Rohit Sharma’s explosive 35-ball century against the Lions to KL Rahul’s century in a bid to complete a record chase, the centuries continue to tell a different tale. They not just only create records but have set an aspiration for the younger players to achieve the “next impossible”.
Here are the 5 fastest centuries by Indian players in T20I:
5. KL Rahul vs West Indies – 46 balls – 2016
India, bowling first, conceded 245 runs in an exhibition game in the United States of America. While everyone thought this game was lost, KL Rahul decided to take things into his own hands. India were 48 for two wickets in four overs. The Karnataka-born batsman scored a century and stitched a partnership with Rohit Sharma to take the game close.
KL Rahul scored 100 in 46 deliveries and ended his innings with an unbeaten 110 off 55 balls. The innings consisted of 12 fours and five sixes but India lost by a run after failing to take two runs on the last ball of the game.
4. Suryakumar Yadav vs Sri Lanka – 45 balls – 2023
Suryakumar Yadav is known for his flexibility on the crease and his ability to score runs to every part of the ground. He broke many a record in the game against Sri Lanka at Rajkot in 2023. The Indian batter got going right from the onset and went on to score one of the fastest centuries in T20Is.
Walking to bat at 52/2, Suryakumar Yadav not only ensured that India got a humongous score but also ensured he scored runs in a fashion that would leave everyone in awe. He scored his century in 45 deliveries and when the carnage ended, he had 112 runs from 51 deliveries. His innings had seven fours and nine sixes, making a mockery of the Sri Lankan bowling unit. India registered a 91-run victory to win the series at Rajkot.
3. Tilak Varma vs South Africa – 41 balls – 2024
The southpaw, in recent times, has grown his stature in Indian cricket. Many people have also named him as the new Suresh Raina. Playing against the likes of Coetzee, Sipamla, Jansen, Tilak Varma scored a century in 41 deliveries, and he ended the innings with nine fours and 10 sixes. Tilak Varma stitched a record partnership with Sanju Samson, taking India to 283 runs for the loss of one wicket. He had stitched a partnership of 210 runs in 90-odd deliveries to take the team to victory.
2. Sanju Samson vs Bangladesh – 40 balls – 2024
Sanju Samson is slowly cementing his place in the Indian T20 team, thanks to his recent performances. In the recent T20 series against Bangladesh, he wreaked havoc with the bat in the third game. Samson scored a century in just 40 balls.
With a sensational knock of 111 off just 47 balls, Sanju Samson took the team to a massive score of 297 runs on the board. The inning consisted of 11 fours and eight sixes but what caught attention throughout the innings was his stroke-making ability off the backfoot.
1. Rohit Sharma vs Sri Lanka – 35 balls – 2017
In a three-match T20I series, India won the first T20I and Sri Lanka had a do-or-die game at their hands in the second T20 international. However, Rohit Sharma quashed all their hopes of making a comeback.
The Hitman sent Sri Lankan bowlers to a leather hunt. He put on a massive 165-run partnership for the opening wicket with KL Rahul. Rohit smashed his century off just 35 deliveries and ended up scoring 118 off 43 balls, striking at 274.4.
Not one bowler was spared by the right-handed batsman. Angelo Mathews was the only bowler in the inning who conceded runs at a rate of less than 7. India won that game by 88 runs.
