ODI cricket is the most popular format of cricket regardless of the growing craze of the T20 format. The first ever ODI match was played in 1971 and since then there is no looking back on this format of the game. Scoring a 100 is commendable but making it in fewer balls is thrilling. Many greats have scored centuries in One Day Internationals, let’s have a look at the batsman with the fastest 100 in ODI cricket.
AB DE Villiers
Former South African batter, AB DE Villiers has smashed the fastest 100 in ODI cricket history. DE Villiers reached the milestone in 2015 in Johannesburg against West Indies in just 31 balls with the help of 16 sixes and 9 fours. In that match, the Proteas trailblazer went on to score 149 runs in 44 balls which led South Africa to post their highest total of 439 in ODIs and registered a victory by a huge margin of 148 runs.
Corey Anderson
Former New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson gets 2nd place on the list of fastest 100 in ODI. Anderson got into the record book in 2014 when he hit a daddy hundred against West Indies in Queenstown in 36 balls, He struck 14 sixes and 9 fours in his carnage, aiding the Kiwis to amass a massive score of 283 runs in 21 overs in a rain-affected day.
Shahid Afridi
Ex-Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi finds himself in 3rd place in terms of getting the fastest hundred in ODIs. Afridi made the record 27 years back in 1996 against Sri Lanka. The flamboyant batter took only 37 balls to register the hundred. Afridi achieved the milestone when it was very rare to play aggressive cricket and shocked the entire world. His record lasted for 17 years before Corey Anderson shattered it in 2014.
Asif Khan
UAE’s lower middle-order batsman Asif Khan created history after smashing a 44-ball century against Nepal in Kirtipur, which is now the fastest century by an associate player and 4th quickest overall. The right-hand batter punished Nepali bowlers with 11 sixes and 4 fours in his carnage outing. But unfortunately, his hundred went in vain as Nepal tasted a 9 runs triumph as per the DL method.
Mark Boucher
Former South African wicket-keeper Mark Boucher gets featured in the 4th spot in whacking the fastest 100 in ODIs. The Proteas batter achieved this feat in 44 balls against Zimbabwe in 2006. Boucher ended his innings at 144* runs in 68 balls that day. His rampage spared no Zimbabwe bowler on the field and bashed them to end South Africa’s innings to 418 runs.
Brian Lara
One of the most stylish batters of all time, Brain Lara also made it to this list, smacking a 100 in 45 balls against Bangladesh in 1999 in Dhaka. Lara hammered 18 fours & 4 sixes in his blitz. It’s unusual for a batter like him as Lara used to take time to build his innings but cricket is an unpredictable game.
Players with Fastest Hundred in ODI
| Player | Balls | Against | Year |
| AB DE Villiers (SA) | 31 | West Indies | 2015 |
| C Anderson (NZ) | 36 | West Indies | 2014 |
| S Afridi (PAK) | 37 | Sri Lanka | 1996 |
| A Khan (UAE) | 44 | Nepal | 2023 |
| M Boucher (SA) | 44 | Zimbabwe | 2006 |
| B Lara (WI) | 45 | Bangladesh | 1999 |
| S Afridi (PAK) | 45 | India | 2005 |
| JD Ryder (NZ) | 46 | West Indies | 2014 |
| Jos Buttler (ENG) | 46 | Pakistan | 2015 |
| J Buttler (ENG) | 47 | Netherlands | 2022 |
AB DE Villiers has hit the fastest hundred in ODI in just 31 balls.
Virat Kohli has the fastest hundred in ODI among Indians in 52 balls.
Ishan Kishan scored the fastest 200 in ODI, in 126 balls against Bangladesh.
Senior Cricket Content Editor at Skyblogs Cricket.
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