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Urvil Patel, the 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Gujarat, has etched his name in history by setting a new record for the fastest T20 century by an Indian. Patel achieved the feat in just 28 balls during a thrilling match against Tripura in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25, held in Indore.
Opening the batting, Patel single-handedly dismantled the Tripura bowling attack, leading his team to chase down the 156-run target with a remarkable 58 balls to spare. Patel’s explosive innings featured seven fours and a remarkable 12 sixes, remaining unbeaten in an eight-wicket win. His strike rate of 322.86 was an impressive showcase of his aggressive batting style.
Urvi Patel shatters Rishabh Pant’s record
While Patel’s innings stole the limelight, his opening partner played a more reserved knock, scoring 38 off 24 balls. Patel, however, proved to be the game-changer with his devastating batting. His performance surpassed expectations, as his quick-fire century broke the previous record for the fastest T20 century by an Indian, held by Rishabh Pant, who had scored his ton in 32 balls during the 2018 edition of the same competition.
IPL snub doesn’t halt Patel’s momentum
Despite his remarkable achievement, Patel’s IPL journey has been less than ideal. The Gujarat Titans had released him ahead of the 2023 season, and he went unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction, held in Saudi Arabia recently. This means that Patel is yet to make his IPL debut, despite his consistent performances in domestic cricket.
However, Patel has continued to impress on the domestic circuit. Last year, after being let go by the Titans, he set another record, scoring a 41-ball century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s premier List A competition. This was the second-fastest List A century by an Indian batter, trailing only Yusuf Pathan‘s 40-ball century from 2010.
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Patel acquires second spot among fastest T20 centurions globally
While Patel’s achievement is a milestone for Indian cricket, the record for the fastest T20 century remains with Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan, who achieved the feat earlier this year. Before Chauhan, only the legendary Chris Gayle (RCB v Pune Warriors, IPL 2013) had scored a T20 century in 30 balls or fewer. Patel’s 28-ball century now joins this exclusive list, officially making him the fastest Indian to reach the landmark and second overall.
Fastest centuries in T20 cricket:
Batter | Balls taken to reach 100 | Match (Team v Opposition) | Year |
---|---|---|---|
Sahil Chauhan | 27 | Estonia v Cyprus | 2024 |
Urvil Patel | 28 | Gujarat v Tripura | 2024 |
Chris Gayle | 30 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Pune Warriors India | 2013 |
Rishabh Pant | 32 | Delhi v Himachal Pradesh | 2018 |
Wihan Lubbe | 33 | North West v Limpopo | 2018 |