Cricket has always been a blend of patience, power, and passion but nothing in life or sport is quite as thrilling as the fastest Century in ODI. Those are innings that are much more than just runs scored at pace, they are about throwing the handbook out the window, dispiriting opponents and creating some crazy memories for fans. When a batter gets to a hundred in a finite number of balls, something shifts in momentum, aggression is redefined, and all that spectators are left with is admiration.
The fastest centuries in ODIs usually come from a player not of this world, a player who sees the bowler as an open book, every ball timed seamlessly and can hit boundaries at will. These innings don’t merely add to scores, they can have an impact on tournaments as a whole, grab the headlines around the world and spur a level of cricketing history.
Fastest ODI centuries include memorable knocks, like AB de Villiers’ outrageous 31-ball Century, Shahid Afridi teenage tornado, and a new era player, Asif Khan!! Fastest ODI centuries are not about the numbers, stats and records; they are stories of audacity and genius – and extraordinary cricket! Let’s look at the top 10 fastest centuries and the legends behind the fastest 15 that every batter dreams of achieving.
Fastest Century in ODI: Top 10 Players Who Made History
1. AB de Villiers – 31 Balls
(South Africa vs West Indies, Jan 2015)
AB de Villiers isn’t known as “Mr. 360” for nothing. His aptitude to strike the ball into every corner of the ground, with ruthless accuracy, was fully on display in this innings, where he scored a blistering 149 off 44 balls with 16 sixes. De Villiers was not just ‘showboating’ – he was redefining innovation and power in the game of cricket, all while remaining composed off the field and a genius on the field.
2. Corey Anderson – 36 Balls
(New Zealand vs West Indies, Jan 2014)
Anderson had a stealthy influence for New Zealand, and before this game, he had gone unnoticed by many. That has changed forever by Thumping 131* in 36 balls, one hell of a knock, breaking the record of 17 years held by all-time Shahid Afridi. Although injuries have inhibited his career later, at least on that day, Anderson was the biggest threat of a batter on the planet.
3. Shahid Afridi – 37 Balls
(Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Oct 1996)
Afridi was only 19 years old and playing his second ODI. What followed was a ridiculous show of raw talent — 102 off 37 balls with 11 sixes. This was a record that stood for years. Afridi didn’t just play aggressively. He made it cool!
4. Glenn Maxwell – 40 Balls
(Australia vs Netherlands, Oct 2023)
What Maxwell produced was real “Mad Max” — creative, destructive, and relentless. A knock of 106 off 44 balls showed once again that he is amongst the most explosive contemporary batters. Maxwell is Australia’s white-ball x-factor — renowned for reverse sweeps, no-look shots, and silly improvisation.
5. Asif Khan – 41 Balls
(UAE vs Nepal)
From the associate world, we have this gem – Asif Khan surprised the cricketing world with his unbeaten 101 off 41 balls, providing UAE with a huge confidence boost. With full-member teams dominating world cricket, this reminds us that heroes can come from anywhere.
6. Mark Boucher – 44 Balls
(South Africa vs Zimbabwe, Sep 2006)
While Boucher is primarily known for his world-class skills with the gloves on, he surprised everyone with a 44-ball century, finishing on 147*. The man who is usually behind the stumps showed the world he could also smash the ball!
7. Brian Lara – 45 Balls
(West Indies vs Bangladesh, Oct 1999)
As a legendary player for the elegance with which he played the game, Brian Lara was more than competent and frequently damaging power hitter. His 117 off 45 balls in Dhaka demonstrated he was more than a style — he could hit it as well. With the combination of beauty and annihilation, he will certainly live on as one of the game’s most cherished icons.
8. Shahid Afridi – 45 Balls
(Pakistan vs India, Apr 2005)
Once again it was Afridi, this time against arch-rivals India in Kanpur. Afridi scored 102 off 45 balls, stole the spotlight from a hostile home crowd, and put the spotlight on himself. Afridi seemed to always bring out the goods on the biggest stage, and if anything this innings was just like any before it.
9. Jesse Ryder – 46 Balls
(New Zealand vs West Indies, Jan 2014)
Ryder was renowned for his attacking tendencies and turbulent journey. But today he was focused – clubbing 104 runs in just 46 balls. His career has had ups and downs, but this innings will always the be a shining light of what he could achieve on his day.
10. Jos Buttler – 46 Balls
(England vs Pakistan, Nov 2015)
Jos Buttler has been the leader of England’s modern white-ball revolution. Cool and calm but brutal with the bat, Buttler scored 116* in only 46 balls. He has the sort of game that doesn’t just propel an innings, he leaps and demolishes it when he decides to play.
Top 15 Fastest Century in ODI History
| Rank | Player (Team) | Balls to 100 | Runs | Opponent | Venue | Date |
| 1 | AB de Villiers (SA) | 31 | 149 | West Indies | Johannesburg | 18 Jan 2015 |
| 2 | Corey Anderson (NZ) | 36 | 131* | West Indies | Queenstown | 1 Jan 2014 |
| 3 | Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 37 | 102 | Sri Lanka | Nairobi | 4 Oct 1996 |
| 4 | Glenn Maxwell (AUS) | 40 | 106 | Netherlands | Delhi | 25 Oct 2023 |
| 5 | Asif Khan (UAE) | 41 | 101* | Nepal | Kirtipur | 16 Mar 2023 |
| 6 | Mark Boucher (SA) | 44 | 147* | Zimbabwe | Potchefstroom | 20 Sep 2006 |
| 7 | Brian Lara (WI) | 45 | 117 | Bangladesh | Dhaka | 9 Oct 1999 |
| 8 | Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 45 | 102 | India | Kanpur | 15 Apr 2005 |
| 9 | Jesse Ryder (NZ) | 46 | 104 | West Indies | Queenstown | 1 Jan 2014 |
| 10 | Jos Buttler (ENG) | 46 | 116* | Pakistan | Dubai | 20 Nov 2015 |
| 11 | Jos Buttler (ENG) | 47 | 162* | Netherlands | Amstelveen | 17 Jun 2022 |
| 12 | Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | 48 | 134 | Pakistan | Singapore | 2 Apr 1996 |
| 13 | Aiden Markram (SA) | 49 | 106 | Sri Lanka | Delhi | 7 Oct 2023 |
| 14 | Jos Buttler (ENG) | 50 | 110* | Pakistan | Southampton | 11 May 2019 |
| 15 | Kevin O’Brien (IRE) | 50 | 113 | England | Bangalore | 2 Mar 2011 |
What Makes These Innings So Special?
These aren’t just about fast scoring. Each of these innings tells a story about timing, temperament, and sometimes outright craziness. There were moments of technique and style from de Villiers, and crazy adventures from players like Afridi who made sure everyone knew he had finally arrived in style. These centuries brought wonderful joy to fans across the world.
But the beauty of this list is that most of these big knocks came completely out of nowhere. They also remind us that in ODIs anything can happen in just a matter of overs. From Ryder’s return to Asif Khan’s takeover of UAE cricket, such big beats are reminders of the unpredictable nature of this throughout the history of ODIs.
Final Thoughts
Fastest ODI centuries aren’t just incredible displays of pacing genius on the pitch — they’re examples of brilliance that change the outcome of matches, rewrite history books, lift moods, and create memories that keep us talking for years.
The game continues to evolve, but we’ve seen the last of these monstrosities. Somewhere, an athlete is already dreaming of scoring 100 in 30 balls or less. And when it happens, we will be there to witness the history.
Read More:
