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The Indian Premier League (IPL) has redefined the boundaries of what’s possible in T20 cricket. Since its inception in 2008, the IPL has been a spectacle of elite cricketing talent from around the globe, offering not just nail-biting finishes and thrilling contests, but also some of the most breathtaking individual performances ever seen on a cricket field. Among these, the art of scoring a T20 hundred, and doing it at breakneck speed, remains one of the most exhilarating accomplishments.
While many Indian batters have carved their names into IPL folklore with classic knocks, it is the overseas batters who have often brought a unique flair and unrelenting aggression to the league. From West Indies powerhouses to South African finishers and Australian trailblazers, international players have lit up the IPL with some of the fastest, most destructive centuries in the tournament’s rich history. These centuries go beyond just numbers ,they are statements of pure dominance, perfectly timed carnage, and sheer entertainment. They often tilt matches single-handedly, pulverizing opposition bowling attacks and leaving fans around the world in awe..
Top 5 fastest hundreds by an overseas batters in the IPL history
5. Will Jacks (41 balls vs Gujarat Titans – May 4, 2024)
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Score: 100* (41 balls) | Century in: 41 balls
- 4s/6s: 5 fours, 10 sixes
- Strike Rate: 243.90
England batter Will Jacks announced his arrival in the IPL in spectacular fashion, launching a full-scale assault on the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. Chasing 201, Jacks played an astonishing unbeaten knock of 100 off 41 balls, reaching his century with a breathtaking six to finish the chase in just 16 overs. Jacks’ knock featured a staggering 10 sixes and displayed his full range the lofted drives, the pulls, and the fearless straight hits. More than just power, his composure and timing stood out. It was a statement innings not just a win for RCB but a sign that Jacks is a future T20 superstar.
4. Travis Head (39 balls vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru – April 15, 2024)
- Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Score: 102 (41 balls) | Century in: 39 balls
- 4s/6s: 9 fours, 8 sixes
- Strike Rate: 248.78
In a match that felt like a six-hitting festival, Travis Head tore into the Royal Challengers Bengaluru‘s bowling at the Chinnaswamy, a ground tailor-made for stroke-makers. Playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad, the Aussie opener brought up his century in just 39 balls, showcasing clinical ball-striking and minimal risk. Head’s knock was a perfect blend of elegance and aggression, as he peppered the short boundaries with ease. His straight and cover drives were a joy to watch, and his fearless approach laid the foundation for a monstrous SRH total of 287/3 the highest team total in IPL history. Head proved that in the right rhythm, even disciplined bowling lines don’t stand a chance.
Also READ: Top 5 fastest centuries in IPL history ft. Heinrich Klaasen
3. David Miller (38 balls vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru – May 6, 2013)
- Venue: IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali
- Score: 101 not out (38 balls) | Century in: 38 balls
- 4s/6s: 8 fours, 7 sixes
- Strike Rate: 265.78
David Miller‘s explosive knock for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) against RCB remains one of the most memorable run-chases in IPL history. Punjab were reeling at 64/4 chasing 191, but Miller unleashed a calculated onslaught, reaching his hundred in just 38 balls and taking Punjab to victory with two overs to spare. The left-hander showcased his signature finishing abilities, executing clean straight hits and whipping balls off his pads with brutal elegance. His acceleration post the halfway mark was phenomenal, and RCB simply had no answers.
2. Heinrich Klaasen (37 balls vs Kolkata Knight Riders – April 3, 2025)
- Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
- Score: 105 not out (39 balls) | Century in: 37 balls
- 4s/6s: 7 fours, 9 sixes
- Strike Rate: 269.23
South African power-hitter Heinrich Klaasen has built a reputation as one of the cleanest hitters in T20 cricket, and he lived up to that reputation in a monumental knock against Kolkata Knight Riders. Batting first, Klaasen walked in with Hyderabad already dominating and turned the game into a full-blown massacre. His 37-ball century, the second-fastest by an overseas batter, came with jaw-dropping acceleration, featuring razor-sharp footwork and astonishing bat speed. His timing was immaculate, and even good balls were dispatched with ease. SRH eventually posted 278/3, one of the highest totals in IPL history, with Klaasen’s masterclass as the crown jewel.
1. Chris Gayle (30 balls vs Pune Warriors India – April 23, 2013)
- Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Score: 175 not out (66 balls) | Century in: 30 balls
- 4s/6s: 13 fours, 17 sixes
- Strike Rate: 265.15
Chris Gayle’s record-breaking 175 not out remains the gold standard of T20 batting. In a surreal display of brute force and effortless hitting, Gayle obliterated the Pune Warriors bowling attack in what is still the fastest hundred in IPL and T20 history. Reaching his hundred in just 30 balls, the ‘Universe Boss’ hit the ball to every corner of the ground with such authority that it rendered field placements useless. Gayle’s assault included a record 17 sixes and powered RCB to 263/5, which was then the highest-ever team total in T20 cricket. His unbeaten 175 is still the highest individual score in the IPL, and that innings has become a landmark in cricket history a hurricane of destruction that redefined what one man could do in a T20 game.
Also READ: Top 5 fastest centuries for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL history ft. Heinrich Klaasen
