Who holds the record for the fastest century in ODI cricket?

The former South Africa captain, AB de Villiers, holds the record for the fastest ODI century off just 31 balls against West Indies at Johannesburg in 2015.

Which Indian batter has scored the fastest ODI century?

Virat Kohli owns the fastest ODI century record for the Indian side as he reached the milestone in 52 balls against Australia at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur in 2013.

How many balls are generally considered exceptionally fast for an ODI century?

Any century which is scored under 50 balls is considered an exceptional feat in ODI cricket, as the top 15 fastest centuries in ODIs have come under 50 balls.

Which Pakistan batter has scored the fastest ODI century?

Shahid Afridi is part of the top 10 list of the fastest ODI centuries twice. He got the record in 37 balls against Sri Lanka in 1996 and later against India off 45 balls in Kanpur in 2005.

10 fastest ODI centuries ever — Can AB's record fall?

It was January 18, 2015, when the former captain of the South Africa side, AB de Villiers, celebrated the fastest century of ODI cricket against West Indies as he blasted to a century off just 31 balls at Wanderers. For more than a decade, the record stood untouched despite the evolution of modern batting in the 50-over format.

De Villiers’ innings was so destructive that it broke the previous world record by five deliveries and redefined what seemed possible in ODI cricket. The format, over the years, has become more batting-friendly due to the new rules and regulations along with the field restrictions in the game.

The bats have become bigger, the pitches have turned flatter, the powerplays have been more aggressive, and fearless stroke-makers have produced some of the incredible knocks. Despite the countless explosive innings from the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Jos Buttler, and others, none of them has been able to get past the name of AB de Villiers at the top of the record books.

The list of the fastest ODI centuries is filled with some of the unforgettable knocks, which feature players from different eras and other cricketing nations. Some have relied on brutal power and aggression, while others have used innovation with the bat. But every innings changed the course of the game and put the bowlers under immense pressure.

Inside the list — and why one record has stood untouched for a decade

With the 31-ball century, AB still stands as the ultimate benchmark, as his iconic record changed the approach and the way people used to see the 50-over format. But will his century stand still in years to come as one of cricket’s most untouchable achievements, or will it come under threat?

Here are the top 10 fastest centuries in the ODI format of the game-

**#10 Jos Buttler (England)- 116* off 52 balls vs Pakistan in 2016-**

It was the fourth ODI game in 2016 between Pakistan and England in Dubai. Jason Roy smashed a fine knock of 102 runs off 117 balls at a strike rate of 87.17 before Jos Buttler used the platform and played a sensational knock of 116 runs off 52 balls at a strike rate of 223.07 with the help of 10 boundaries and eight sixes.

Those two centuries helped the Eoin Morgan-led side post 355 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Apart from those two centuries, Joe Root clubbed a fine knock of 71 runs at a strike rate of 100, shouldering on three boundaries and a couple of sixes.

In reply, the home side was bundled out for 271 runs in 40.4 overs and lost the contest by 84 runs.

Brief Scores- England 355/5 (Jos Buttler 116*, Jason Roy 102, Azhar Ali 2/26) beat Pakistan 271 (Shoaib Malik 52, Moeen Ali 3/53) by 84 runs.

#9 Jesse Ryder (New Zealand)- 104 off 52 balls vs West Indies in 2014-

It was a rain-curtailed contest between New Zealand and West Indies in Queenstown where the hosts batted first in the 21-over encounter and posted a strong score of 283 runs for the loss of four wickets. While opening the batting, Jesse Ryder nailed a thumping knock of 104 runs in just 51 balls, thanks to 12 boundaries and five sixes.

Ryder was well supported by Corey Anderson, who remained undefeated on 131 runs off 47 balls at a strike rate of 278.72 runs, shouldering on six boundaries and 14 sixes. The visitors, in reply, were restricted to 124/5 to gift the Kiwis a 159-run win.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 283/4 (Corey Anderson 131*, Jesse Ryder 104, Jason Holder 2/48) beat West Indies 124/5 (DJ Bravo 56*, M McClenaghan 2/7) by five wickets.

#8 Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)- 102 off 45 balls vs India in Kanpur 2005-

It was the fifth ODI between India and Pakistan at the Green Park in Kanpur during the 2005 series, where the home side batted first and were restricted to 249 runs for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Their captain, Rahul Dravid, slammed 86 runs with the help of eight boundaries while Mohammad Kaif dashed 78 runs with nine boundaries.

In reply, Shahid Afridi killed the chase with a 45-ball knock of 102 runs, while opening the batting, with the help of 10 boundaries and nine over boundaries as the tourists completed the chase by five wickets with 47 balls to spare.

Brief Scores: Pakistan 252/5 (Shahid Afridi 102, Anil Kumble 2/54) beat India 249/6 (Rahul Dravid 86, Naved-ul-Hasan 3/35) by five wickets.

#7 Brian Lara (West Indies)- 117 off 45 vs Bangladesh in Dhaka 1999-

It was the second ODI in Dhaka in 1999 between Bangladesh and West Indies where the visitors batted first and posted 314 runs for the loss of six wickets in their 50 overs. Their captain, Brian Lara, while opening the batting, smashed a fine knock of 117 runs off just 45 balls with the help of 18 boundaries and four sixes. He was well supported by Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s unbeaten 77-run knock.

Bangladesh went through an ordinary batting performance and was rolled over for 205 runs, as only their leader, Aminul Islam, was able to cross the 50-run mark, ending with 66 runs in 89 balls, thanks to three boundaries.

Brief Scores- West Indies 314/6 (Brian Lara 117, Shivnarine Chanderpaul 77*, Enamul Haque 2/45) beat Bangladesh 205 (Aminul Islam 66, Sherwin Campbell 4/30) by 109 runs.

**#6 Mark Boucher (South Africa)- 147* off 44 balls vs Zimbabwe in 2006-**

During the Potchefstroom ODI between South Africa and Zimbabwe in 2006, the home side posted a huge score of 418 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 50 overs. The most significant knock of the line-up came from the number 4 batter, Mark Boucher, who slashed an unbeaten 147 runs off just 68 balls, with the help of eight boundaries and 10 sixes. Apart from that, their top three also celebrated three half-centuries.

In reply, the visitors could manage only 247 runs for the loss of four wickets and lost the contest by 171 runs. For them, Terry Duffin got 88 runs off 134 balls while Hamilton Masakadza smashed a fifty.

Brief Scores: South Africa 418/5 (Mark Boucher 147*, Loots Bosman 88, Tafadza Kamungozi 2/70) beat Zimbabwe 247/4 (Roger Telemachus 2/33) by 171 runs.

**#5 Asif Khan (UAE)- 101* off 41 balls vs Nepal in Kirtipur in 2023-**

During the ODI encounter between the United Arab Emirates and Nepal in Kirtipur in 2023, the tourists smashed a dashing score of 310 runs for the loss of six wickets. Their middle-order batter, Asif Khan, remained unbeaten on an aggressive knock of 101 runs off just 42 balls with the help of four boundaries and 11 sixes.

In the DLS method, the Nepal side was given a chase of 261 runs off just 44 balls, and Nepal completed the successful chase by four wickets thanks to their four centuries.

Brief Scores: Nepal 269/6 (Bhim Sharki 67, Aarif Sheikh 52, Junaid Siddique 3/51) beat UAE 310/6 (Asif Khan 101*, Vriitya Aravind 94, Dipendra Singh Airee 2/19) by 9 runs (DLS Method).

#4 Glenn Maxwell (Australia)- 106 off 40 balls vs Netherlands in Delhi 2023-

During the ODI World Cup 2023 encounter between Australia and the Netherlands at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, the Pat Cummins-led side posted a huge score of 399/8 in their allotted 50 overs, with Glenn Maxwell’s flurry of boundaries helping them end with 106 runs off 44 balls with the help of nine fours and eight sixes. David Warner also drilled 104 runs off 93 balls.

The Dutch, at the end, were bowled out for 90 runs in just 21 overs as Adam Zampa picked up four wickets for eight runs in three overs. Australia earned the victory by 309 runs.

Brief Scores: Australia 399/8 (Glenn Maxwell 106, David Warner 104, Logan van Beek 4/74) beat Netherlands 90 (Vikramjit Singh 25, Adam Zampa 4/8) by 309 runs.

#3 Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)- 102 off 37 balls vs Sri Lanka in Nairobi 1996-

In the 1996 ODI World Cup in Nairobi, Pakistan faced Sri Lanka and posted a huge score of 371 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 50 overs. After their captain, Saeed Anwar, drilled 115 runs off 120 balls, Afridi nailed 102 runs off just 40 balls, thanks to six boundaries and 11 sixes.

In the chase, Sri Lanka were bundled out for 289 runs with the number four batter, Aravinda de Silva, smashing 122 runs off just 116 balls at a strike rate of 105.17 with the help of 12 boundaries and a couple of sixes. However, Pakistan claimed the victory by 82 runs.

Brief Scores- Pakistan 371/9 (Saeed Anwar 115, Shahid Afridi 102, Sanath Jayasuriya 3/94) beat Sri Lanka 289 (Aravinda de Silva 122, Waqar Younis 5/52) by 82 runs.

**#2 Corey Anderson (New Zealand)- 131* off 36 balls vs West Indies in Queenstown in 2014-**

After Jess Ryder’s 104 runs off 51 balls at the opening spot, New Zealand’s all-rounder, Corey Anderson, drilled a dashing knock of 131 runs in just 47 balls at a strike rate of 278.72 as the Kiwis posted 283 runs for the loss of four wickets in the rain-curtailed game of 21 overs.

In the chase, West Indies were poor with the batting approach and restricted to 124 runs for the loss of five wickets, losing the encounter by 159 runs.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 283/4 (Corey Anderson 131*, Jesse Ryder 104, Jason Holder 2/48) beat West Indies 124/5 (DJ Bravo 56*, M McClenaghan 2/7) by five wickets.

#1 Ab de Villiers (South Africa)- 149 off 44 balls vs West Indies in Johannesburg 2015-

That record stands for more than 10 years as South Africa faced West Indies at Wanderers. After the 247-run opening stand, the Proteas captain, AB de Villiers, walked into the middle and brought a storm with him. He smashed the fastest century in the format off just 31 balls and ended with 149 runs off just 44 balls with the help of nine fours and 16 sixes.

In the 440-run chase, the visitors were restricted to 291/7 with Dwayne Smith smashing 64 runs off 65 balls while Dinesh Ramdin made 57 runs in 55 balls. The home side got the victory by 148 runs.

Brief Scores: South Africa 439/2 (Hashim Amla 153, AB de Villiers 149, Rilee Rossouw 128, Andre Russell 1/78) beat West Indies 291/7 (Dwayne Smith 64, Morne Morkel 2/43) by 148 runs.