Top 10 Batsmen with fastest centuries in ODI cricket
| S.No | Batsman | Against | Date | Balls |
| 01 | AB de Villiers | West Indies | 2015 | 31 balls |
| 02 | Corey Anderson | West Indies | 2014 | 36 balls |
| 03 | Shahid Afridi | Sri Lanka | 1996 | 37 balls |
| 04 | Mark Boucher | Zimbabwe | 2006 | 44 balls |
| 05 | Brian Lara | Pakistan | 1997 | 45 balls |
| 06 | Shahid Afridi | India | 2005 | 45 balls |
| 07 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Pakistan | 1996 | 48 balls |
| 08 | Kevin O’Brien | England | 2011 | 50 balls |
| 09 | Glenn Maxwell | Sri Lanka | 2015 | 51 balls |
| 10 | James Faulkner | India | 2013 | 57 balls |
What is ODI cricket?
ODI cricket, or One Day International cricket, is a form of cricket that is played between two teams, each of which has 11 players. A match consists of 50 overs, with each team batting for 50 overs and trying to score as many runs as possible. The team that scores the most runs at the end of the match wins.
Top 10 Fastest Centuries in ODI Cricket
Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world and it is watched and played by millions of people. One of the most exciting moments in a cricket match is when a batsman scores a century, which is when they score 100 runs or more. In this article, we will be discussing the top 10 fastest centuries in ODI cricket history.
1. AB de Villiers – 31 balls
AB de Villiers is a retired South African cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He holds the record for the fastest century in ODI cricket, which he achieved in just 31 balls against the West Indies in 2015.
| Against | Balls | Date | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s |
| West Indies | 31 | Jan 18, 2015 | 211.53 | 16 | 9 |
2. Corey Anderson – 36 balls
Corey Anderson is a New Zealand cricketer who holds the record for the second-fastest century in ODI cricket, which he achieved in just 36 balls against the West Indies in 2014.
| Against | Balls | Date | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s |
| West Indies | 36 | Jan 1, 2014 | 277.77 | 6 | 14 |
3. Shahid Afridi – 37 balls
Shahid Afridi is a former Pakistani cricketer who is known for his aggressive style of play. He holds the record for the third-fastest century in ODI cricket, which he achieved in just 37 balls against Sri Lanka in 1996.
| Against | Balls | Date | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s |
| Sri Lanka | 37 | Oct 4, 1996 | 283.78 | 6 | 9 |
4. Mark Boucher – 44 balls
| Against | Balls | Date | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s |
| Zimbabwe | 44 | Sept 20, 2006 | 250.00 | 10 | 1 |
Mark Boucher is a retired South African cricketer who is considered to be one of the greatest wicket-keepers of all time. He holds the record for the fourth-fastest century in ODI cricket, which he achieved in just 44 balls against Zimbabwe in 2006.
5. Brian Lara – 45 balls
| Against | Balls | Date | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s |
| Bangladesh | 45 | Oct 9, 1999 | 244.44 | 18 | 4 |
Brian Lara is a retired West Indian cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He holds the record for the fifth-fastest century in ODI cricket, which he achieved in just 45 balls against Pakistan in 1997.
6. Shahid Afridi – 45 balls
| Against | Balls | Date | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s |
| India | 45 | April 15, 2005 | 244.44 | 10 | 9 |
Shahid Afridi makes another appearance on this list, with his second-fastest century in ODI cricket achieved in just 45 balls against India in 2005.
7. Sanath Jayasuriya – 48 balls
Sanath Jayasuriya is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who is considered to be one of the greatest all-rounders of all time. He holds the record for the seventh-fastest century in ODI cricket, which he achieved in just 48 balls against Pakistan in 1996.
| Against | Balls | Date | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s |
| Pakistan | 48 | April 2, 1996 | 225.00 | 11 | 3 |
8. Kevin O’Brien – 50 balls
Kevin O’Brien is an Irish cricketer who holds the record for the fastest century in a World Cup match. He achieved this feat in just 50 balls against England in 2011.
| Against | Balls | Date | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s |
| England | 50 | March 2, 2011 | 220.00 | 13 | 6 |
9. Glenn Maxwell – 51 balls
| Against | Balls | Date | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s |
| Sri Lanka | 51 | Sept 3, 2016 | 294.11 | 14 | 9 |
Glenn Maxwell is an Australian cricketer who is known for his aggressive style of play. He holds the record for the ninth-fastest century in ODI cricket, which he achieved in just 51 balls against Sri Lanka in 2015.
10. James Faulkner – 57 balls
James Faulkner is an Australian cricketer who is known for his impressive bowling and all-round skills. He holds the record for the tenth-fastest century in ODI cricket, which he achieved in just 57 balls against India in 2013.
| Against | Balls | Date | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s |
| India | 51 | Sept 3, 2013 | 158.11 | 11 | 6 |
Analysis of the Fastest Centuries in ODI Cricket
As we can see from the list above, the record for the fastest century in ODI cricket has been broken several times over the years. This is due to the development of new techniques and the increasing aggression of modern-day cricket.
The top 10 fastest centuries in ODI cricket were achieved by players from various countries, including South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Ireland, and Australia. This shows that cricket is a truly global sport and that players from all over the world can excel at it.
It is also interesting to note that some of the players on this list are all-rounders, which means that they are skilled at both batting and bowling. This demonstrates the importance of having a well-rounded team in cricket, as players who can contribute in multiple areas can be invaluable to their team’s success.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the top 10 fastest centuries in ODI cricket history are a testament to the skill and dedication of the players who achieved them. These records will undoubtedly continue to be broken in the future as cricket continues to evolve and players become more skilled and aggressive.
Whether you are a fan of cricket or not, there is no denying the excitement and drama that comes with a fast-paced game. The top 10 fastest centuries in ODI cricket history are a great example of this, and they will undoubtedly continue to be a source of inspiration and motivation for future generations of cricketers around the world.