Cricket is a sport filled with excitement and unforgettable moments, but few are as thrilling as watching a batsman score a century in record time. The fastest century in ODI cricket history has always amazed fans, showing how modern players combine skill, power, and fearless hitting.
From AB de Villiers’ incredible 31 ball hundred to Shahid Afridi’s explosive innings as a teenager, these performances have changed how the game is played. They reflect how cricket has evolved from patient batting to high speed entertainment, where every ball can fly to the boundary.
This article looks at the world’s Fastest Century In ODI Cricket History, highlighting the top 25 fastest hundreds ever scored. Each of these innings tells a story of determination, confidence, and pure brilliance, proving that in cricket, just a few overs can create history and thrill fans around the world. For those who love keeping up with records and predictions, checking the Fastest Odds can make following these explosive performances even more exciting.
Best 25 Fastest Centuries In ODI
Scoring a century in One Day Internationals (ODIs) is a big achievement, but doing it in record time makes it even more special. Over the years, many players have amazed fans with their powerful and fearless batting, especially those who have gone on to set records for the world fastest century in ODI cricket.
| S.N. | Player Name | Balls | Runs | 6s | 4s | Team | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AB de Villiers | 31 | 149 | 16 | 9 | South Africa | West Indies | Johannesburg | 2015 |
| 2 | Corey Anderson | 36 | 131* | 14 | 6 | New Zealand | West Indies | Queenstown | 2014 |
| 3 | Shahid Afridi | 37 | 102 | 11 | 6 | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | Nairobi | 1996 |
| 4 | Glenn Maxwell | 40 | 106 | 8 | 9 | Australia | Netherlands | Delhi | 2023 |
| 5 | Asif Khan | 41 | 101* | 11 | 4 | UAE | Nepal | Kirtipur | 2023 |
| 6 | Mark Boucher | 44 | 147* | 10 | 8 | South Africa | Zimbabwe | Potchefstroom | 2006 |
| 7 | Brian Lara | 45 | 117 | 4 | 18 | West Indies | Bangladesh | Dhaka | 1999 |
| 8 | Shahid Afridi | 45 | 102 | 9 | 10 | Pakistan | India | Kanpur | 2005 |
| 9 | Jesse Ryder | 46 | 104 | 5 | 12 | New Zealand | West Indies | Queenstown | 2014 |
| 10 | Jos Buttler | 46 | 116* | 8 | 10 | England | Pakistan | Dubai (DSC) | 2015 |
| 11 | Jos Buttler | 47 | 162* | 14 | 7 | England | Netherlands | Amstelveen | 2022 |
| 12 | Cameron Green | 47 | 118* | 8 | 6 | Australia | South Africa | Mackay | 2025 |
| 13 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 48 | 134 | 11 | 11 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | Singapore | 1996 |
| 14 | Aiden Markram | 49 | 106 | 3 | 14 | South Africa | Sri Lanka | Delhi | 2023 |
| 15 | Jos Buttler | 50 | 110* | 6 | 9 | England | Pakistan | Southampton | 2019 |
| 16 | Kevin O’Brien | 50 | 113 | 6 | 13 | Ireland | England | Bangalore | 2011 |
| 17 | Glenn Maxwell | 51 | 102 | 4 | 10 | Australia | Sri Lanka | Sydney | 2015 |
| 18 | Virat Kohli | 52 | 100* | 7 | 8 | India | Australia | Jaipur | 2013 |
| 19 | AB de Villiers | 52 | 162* | 8 | 17 | South Africa | West Indies | Sydney | 2015 |
| 20 | Shahid Afridi | 53 | 124 | 4 | 17 | Pakistan | Bangladesh | Dambulla | 2010 |
| 21 | Moeen Ali | 53 | 102 | 8 | 7 | England | West Indies | Bristol | 2017 |
| 22 | Saim Ayub | 53 | 113* | 3 | 17 | Pakistan | Zimbabwe | Bulawayo | 2024 |
| 23 | Jonny Bairstow | 54 | 105 | 6 | 12 | England | Scotland | Edinburgh | 2018 |
| 24 | Heinrich Klaasen | 54 | 119* | 5 | 14 | South Africa | West Indies | Potchefstroom | 2023 |
| 25 | Sikandar Raza | 54 | 102* | 8 | 6 | Zimbabwe | Netherlands | Harare | 2023 |
Fastest Century In ODI Cricket History
Let’s explore the innings that have captivated cricket fans worldwide. Across all cricket league formats and international matches, these are the moments where batters threw caution to the wind and achieved the extraordinary, securing their place in the record books.
1. AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers holds the record for the world’s fastest ODI century. On January 18, 2015, at Wanderers Stadium, de Villiers scored a century in just 31 balls against the West Indies. He finished with 149 runs off 44 balls, including 9 fours and 16 sixes. His extraordinary 360-degree hitting, featuring audacious scoops and powerful drives, left spectators and opponents in awe.
2. Corey Anderson

On New Year’s Day 2014 in Queenstown, New Zealand’s Corey Anderson delivered a power-hitting spectacle. In a rain-shortened 21-over match, Anderson launched an aggressive assault, reaching a century in just 36 balls – breaking Shahid Afridi’s then-record. His 131* off 47 balls featured 6 fours and 14 towering sixes, a testament to his immense strength.
3. Shahid Afridi

For 18 years, this was the gold standard for rapid scoring in ODIs. In just his second international match, 16-year-old Shahid “Boom Boom” Afridi stunned the world. Batting at number three against Sri Lanka in Nairobi, he smashed a 37-ball hundred with 6 fours and 11 sixes, finishing on 102. This fearless display of raw power defined a generation of aggressive batting.
4. Glenn Maxwell

During the 2023 ODI World Cup, Australia’s Glenn “The Big Show” Maxwell delivered a stunning innings against the Netherlands in Delhi. He smashed a century in just 40 balls, the fastest in World Cup history. Maxwell’s inventive strokeplay, including reverse sweeps and powerful slogs, led to an explosive 106 runs off 44 balls with 9 fours and 8 sixes.
5. Asif Khan

Asif Khan, representing the UAE, achieved a remarkable century in just 41 balls against Nepal in Kirtipur. His unbeaten 101* from 42 deliveries, featuring 4 fours and 11 sixes, showcased a masterclass in clean hitting, solidifying his place among cricket’s elite power-hitters.
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6. Mark Boucher

South African wicketkeeper batter Mark Boucher was renowned for his finishing abilities, and his innings against Zimbabwe was a prime example. He smashed a century in just 44 balls, an incredible feat for a lower order batter at the time. Boucher remained unbeaten on 147 from 68 balls, hitting 8 fours and 10 sixes to power South Africa to a massive total.
7. Brian Lara

Brian Lara, the “Prince of Trinidad,” was celebrated for his elegant batting but could also be devastatingly destructive. Against Bangladesh in Dhaka, he raced to a hundred in just 45 balls. His 117 from 62 balls (18 fours, 4 sixes) was a perfect blend of timing and power.
8. Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi appears again with another whirlwind century, this time against arch-rivals India in Kanpur. Opening the batting, he immediately attacked the bowlers, reaching his hundred in 45 balls. His explosive 102 from 46 balls, including 10 fours and 9 sixes, set the stage for a successful chase.
9. Jesse Ryder

Corey Anderson broke the world record, Jesse Ryder delivered his own spectacular innings. Opening the batting, Ryder blazed his way to a 46-ball century, an achievement momentarily overshadowed by his partner. Ryder’s 104 from 51 balls, featuring 12 fours and 5 sixes, was a phenomenal display of aggressive batting.
10. Jos Buttler

England’s Jos Buttler is one of the most destructive batters in modern cricket, and he demonstrated his full range of skills against Pakistan in Dubai. Buttler reached his hundred in just 46 balls, the fastest by an England player. His unbeaten 116 from 52 balls was filled with innovative shots, including 10 fours and 8 sixes.
Fastest Centuries in the ODI World Cup
The ODI World Cup is the pinnacle of the sport, and performing on this stage adds another layer of significance to any achievement.
| Rank | Player | Balls Faced | Opponent | Year |
| 1 | Glenn Maxwell | 40 | Netherlands | 2023 |
| 2 | Aiden Markram | 49 | Sri Lanka | 2023 |
| 3 | Kevin O’Brien | 50 | England | 2011 |
| 4 | Glenn Maxwell | 51 | Sri Lanka | 2015 |
| 5 | AB de Villiers | 52 | West Indies | 2015 |
These innings are about more than just fast scoring; they’re about delivering under the immense pressure of the biggest stage. Whether you’re tracking live match probabilities with Fastest Odds or watching Cricket Live Streaming, these are the moments that define the sport.
Conclusion
Today’s aggressive, fearless, and innovative batting has reshaped ODI cricket. The records for the fastest century aren’t just numbers; they signify a paradigm shift in the 50 over game. From Afridi’s power to de Villiers’ 360 degree genius and Maxwell’s destruction, each record has inspired the next generation to push boundaries. The modern game with its fielding restrictions, better bats, and T20 influence has made these explosive feats more possible than ever.
Players from all cricket leagues now bring their best skills to international games, making cricket even more exciting. If you play Fantasy Cricket Apps, you know how important these powerful hitters are because one amazing innings can change the whole game. The world’s fastest century record is truly fascinating as it combines great skill, power, and courage.
AB de Villiers’ 31 ball century is the greatest achievement for fast scoring. But cricket batting keeps improving, and one day, someone might break this incredible record. The race for faster centuries continues, and fans everywhere are watching eagerly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The fastest century in ODI cricket history was scored by AB de Villiers of South Africa, who reached 100 runs in just 31 balls against the West Indies in Johannesburg on January 18, 2015.
Before AB de Villiers, Corey Anderson from New Zealand held the record with a 36 ball century against the West Indies in 2014.
The fastest ODI century for India was scored by Virat Kohli, who reached his hundred in 52 balls against Australia in Jaipur (2013).
Only four players have achieved this: AB de Villiers (31 balls), Corey Anderson (36), Shahid Afridi (37), and Glenn Maxwell (40).
The fastest century in ODI World Cup matches was scored by Kevin O’Brien of Ireland, who hit a hundred in 50 balls against England during the 2011 World Cup.
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