What’s the story
In an electrifying display of cricketing prowess, Gujarat’s 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, Urvil Patel, has etched his name in the annals of T20 history by scoring the fastest century by an Indian. His phenomenal hundred came off a mere 28 balls during the high-octane 2024/25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy clash against Tripura, marking him as the second-fastest overall in the format.
Patel’s explosive innings catapulted him to the top, eclipsing the previous record held by Rishabh Pant, who had dazzled fans with a feat of his own.
Here’s a showcase of the swiftest centuries in the domain of men’s T20 cricket.
Sahil Chauhan: 27 balls vs Cyprus, 2024
Earlier this year, in an exhilarating showdown, Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan blew minds by smashing a record 27-ball century against Cyprus, marking his name in cricket history.
His dazzling performance facilitated Estonia to chase down a daunting target of 192 in just 13 overs. Victory came with 42 balls to spare—a sight to behold!
Chauhan amassed a jaw-dropping 144 runs from merely 41 deliveries, peppered with 6 fours and a staggering 18 sixes, showcasing his aggressive style of play.
Urvil Patel: 28 balls vs Tripura, 2024
Patel’s bid for the fastest century nearly paralleled Chauhan’s record. In the gripping Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matchup, his record-breaking century came off just 28 balls, comprising 7 fours and a jaw-dropping 12 sixes, catapulting his strike rate to a mind-boggling 322.86 with an astonishing 113 runs off merely 35 balls.
His explosive performance was pivotal in leading Gujarat to an emphatic eight-wicket triumph, with an impressive 58 balls still lingering in the match!
Chris Gayle: 30 balls vs Pune Warriors, 2013
It’s worth mentioning that before this evolution in T20 stats, the legendary Universe Boss, Chris Gayle, held the record for what felt like an eternity.
His blistering 30-ball century for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2013 IPL against Pune Warriors India was a sight—one to behold!
Gayle wreaked havoc that night amassing an unbeaten 175* runs from just 66 balls, intertwined with a staggering 13 fours and 17 sixes, still cherished as the pinnacle of individual T20 performances!
Rishabh Pant: 32 balls vs Himachal Pradesh, 2018
Not to be overlooked, Rishabh Pant’s remarkable 32-ball century against Himachal Pradesh back in 2018 had previously etched his name in the record books, only to be eclipsed by Patel’s remarkable performance.
Pant, too, illuminated the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with his 38-ball 116*, which was bolstered by 8 fours and 12 sixes, guiding Delhi with finesse to chase down 145 in a mere 11.4 overs.
