Fastest Century in ODI World Cup History

A fast century can completely change an ODI World Cup match. While a traditional hundred may take 100 or more deliveries, the quickest World Cup centuries have arrived in almost half that time, allowing teams to add 100-plus runs in a short period and put enormous pressure on opposing bowlers.

The ICC ODI Cricket World Cup has produced explosive hundreds from some of the game’s greatest attacking batters, including Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Eoin Morgan, Rohit Sharma and Matthew Hayden. Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien held the World Cup record for more than a decade after reaching his hundred from 50 balls against England in 2011. Aiden Markram broke that record with a 49-ball century in 2023, but his mark survived for only 18 days.

Glenn Maxwell then produced the fastest century in ODI World Cup history, reaching 100 from only 40 balls against the Netherlands in Delhi. His remarkable innings remains the tournament record through the latest completed ODI World Cup.

Fastest Centuries in ODI World Cup History

The table below lists the fastest hundreds scored in men’s ODI Cricket World Cup history from 1975 through the 2023 edition.

The 2023 World Cup completely reshaped this leaderboard. Eight of the top 15 fastest World Cup centuries were scored during that tournament, showing how much ODI batting has changed.

Glenn Maxwell – 40 Balls vs Netherlands

Glenn Maxwell owns the record for the fastest century in ODI World Cup history.

The Australian all-rounder reached three figures from only 40 balls against the Netherlands at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on October 25, 2023.

Australia already had a strong platform when Maxwell arrived, but he transformed a competitive total into a massive one. He attacked almost immediately, using sweeps, reverse sweeps, powerful drives and clean straight hitting to put the Netherlands bowlers under extreme pressure.

Maxwell reached his fifty from 27 balls but needed only another 13 deliveries to move from 50 to 100.

He eventually scored 106 from 44 balls, hitting nine fours and eight sixes. His innings helped Australia finish on 399/8.

Australia then dismissed the Netherlands for 90 and won by 309 runs.

Maxwell’s 40-ball hundred broke Aiden Markram’s record by nine deliveries and became the fastest World Cup century ever.

Aiden Markram – 49 Balls vs Sri Lanka

Aiden Markram briefly held the record for the fastest hundred in Cricket World Cup history during South Africa’s opening match of the 2023 tournament.

Playing against Sri Lanka in Delhi, Markram reached his century from only 49 balls.

South Africa’s top order had already created a strong foundation through Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen, who both scored hundreds. Markram then attacked a tiring Sri Lankan bowling unit during the final overs.

He finished with 106 from 54 balls, including 14 fours and three sixes.

South Africa posted 428/5, which became the highest team total in ODI World Cup history.

Markram’s 49-ball hundred broke Kevin O’Brien’s 12-year-old record of 50 balls. However, Markram stayed at the top for less than three weeks before Glenn Maxwell produced his 40-ball century at the same venue.

Kevin O’Brien – 50 Balls vs England

Kevin O’Brien’s century against England in Bengaluru in 2011 remains one of the most famous innings in World Cup history.

England scored 327/8 and appeared to be heading towards a comfortable victory when Ireland slipped to 111/5.

O’Brien then produced an extraordinary counterattack.

He reached his century from only 50 deliveries, breaking the previous World Cup record for the fastest hundred. His aggressive hitting completely changed the chase and forced England onto the defensive.

O’Brien eventually made 113 from 63 balls, hitting 13 fours and six sixes.

Ireland reached 329/7 with five balls remaining to complete one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history.

What makes O’Brien’s hundred particularly memorable is the situation. Unlike many quick World Cup centuries scored while setting huge totals, his knock came during a difficult chase with Ireland in serious trouble.

Glenn Maxwell – 51 Balls vs Sri Lanka

Maxwell appears twice among the five fastest centuries in ODI World Cup history.

His first entry came against Sri Lanka during the 2015 World Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Australia had already built a strong platform, and Maxwell attacked aggressively from the moment he arrived. He reached his century from 51 balls, which was then the second-fastest World Cup hundred behind Kevin O’Brien.

Maxwell finished with 102 from just 53 deliveries. His innings contained 10 fours and four sixes.

Australia scored 376/9 and eventually won by 64 runs.

Eight years later, Maxwell went considerably faster, cutting his World Cup century record from 51 balls to only 40.

AB de Villiers – 52 Balls vs West Indies

AB de Villiers produced one of the most destructive World Cup innings ever seen against the West Indies in Sydney in 2015.

The South African captain reached his century from 52 balls, but remarkably, his scoring rate increased even further after reaching three figures.

De Villiers completed his 150 from only 64 balls and finished unbeaten on 162 from 66 deliveries.

His innings included 17 fours and eight sixes.

South Africa scored 408/5, with de Villiers destroying the West Indies attack during the closing overs.

His century was the second-fastest in World Cup history at the time, behind only Kevin O’Brien. Even after the record-breaking 2023 tournament, it remains one of the five fastest World Cup hundreds ever scored.

Who Holds the Fastest Century Record in ODI World Cup History?

Glenn Maxwell holds the record for the fastest century in men’s ODI World Cup history.

He reached his hundred from 40 balls against the Netherlands at Delhi during the 2023 World Cup.

Maxwell came to the crease late in Australia’s innings and immediately increased the scoring rate. He needed 27 balls to reach fifty and only 13 more deliveries to complete his century.

His 40-ball hundred was nine balls faster than the previous World Cup record.

Aiden Markram had set that previous mark only 18 days earlier by scoring a 49-ball century against Sri Lanka.

Maxwell finished the innings on 106 from 44 balls as Australia posted 399/8.

Fastest World Cup Century by an Indian Batter

KL Rahul holds the record for the fastest century by an Indian batter in ODI World Cup history.

Rahul reached his hundred from 62 deliveries against the Netherlands at Bengaluru during the 2023 World Cup.

India were already in a dominant position when Rahul joined Shreyas Iyer in the middle. The pair attacked strongly during the final overs and pushed India to 410/4.

Rahul scored 102 from 64 balls, with 11 fours and four sixes.

His 62-ball century broke the Indian World Cup record set by Rohit Sharma earlier in the same tournament.

Rohit had reached 100 from 63 balls against Afghanistan in Delhi. He eventually scored 131 from 84 balls as India comfortably chased 273.

Shreyas Iyer also appears high on the overall list after reaching his hundred from 67 balls against New Zealand in the 2023 semi-final.

Fastest World Cup Century by a Pakistani Batter

Fakhar Zaman holds the record for the fastest century by a Pakistan batter in ODI World Cup history.

He reached his hundred from 63 balls against New Zealand in Bengaluru during the 2023 tournament.

Pakistan were chasing a huge target after New Zealand scored 401/6.

Fakhar attacked from the beginning and kept Pakistan ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern requirement as rain repeatedly interrupted the match.

He finished unbeaten on 126 from 81 balls, hitting eight fours and 11 sixes.

Pakistan reached 200/1 from 25.3 overs before rain ended the contest. They won by 21 runs under the DLS method.

Fakhar’s innings kept Pakistan’s semi-final hopes alive and became one of their most aggressive World Cup hundreds.

Other Fast World Cup Centuries

Eoin Morgan’s 57-ball century against Afghanistan in 2019 remains England’s fastest World Cup hundred.

Morgan went on to make 148 from only 71 deliveries and hit 17 sixes, setting a then-record for the most sixes by a batter in an ODI innings.

Travis Head reached his century from 59 balls against New Zealand in Dharamsala in 2023. He scored 109 from 67 balls as Australia posted 388.

Heinrich Klaasen needed 61 balls to reach his hundred against England in Mumbai during the same tournament. His 109 from 67 deliveries helped South Africa reach 399/7.

Kusal Mendis recorded Sri Lanka’s fastest World Cup hundred when he reached three figures from 65 balls against Pakistan in Hyderabad. He eventually scored 122 from 77 balls.

Matthew Hayden’s 66-ball hundred against South Africa in 2007 held the World Cup record before Kevin O’Brien went faster four years later.

Canada’s John Davison also deserves special mention. His 67-ball century against the West Indies in 2003 was remarkable for a player representing an associate nation and stood among the fastest World Cup hundreds for many years.

How the Fastest World Cup Century Record Has Evolved

The evolution of the fastest World Cup century record reflects the changing approach to ODI batting.

In earlier World Cups, scoring at a run a ball was considered extremely aggressive. Batters generally spent more time building an innings before attacking during the closing overs.

Kapil Dev’s legendary 175 not out against Zimbabwe in 1983 represented a major shift. He reached his hundred in approximately 72 balls and rescued India from 17/5.

Matthew Hayden then pushed the standard much further in 2007. His 66-ball century against South Africa became the fastest hundred in World Cup history at that time.

Kevin O’Brien changed the record dramatically in 2011 by reaching his hundred in 50 balls.

That record survived the entire 2015 and 2019 tournaments despite explosive innings from Maxwell, de Villiers and Morgan.

The 2023 World Cup then produced two new records in the space of 18 days.

Aiden Markram first lowered the mark to 49 balls against Sri Lanka. Glenn Maxwell then destroyed that record with his 40-ball hundred against the Netherlands.

The progression shows how modern ODI batting has become more aggressive. Batters now use T20 techniques, greater boundary-hitting power and unconventional shots to accelerate earlier in an innings.

Fastest Centuries in ODI World Cup History

A rapid hundred can change both a match and a team’s tournament.

When batting first, a fast century can add 50 or 60 extra runs to a total that might otherwise have been only competitive. Maxwell’s hundred against the Netherlands and Markram’s innings against Sri Lanka are strong examples.

In a chase, aggressive centuries can reduce a huge asking rate and force bowlers to change their plans. Kevin O’Brien and Fakhar Zaman showed how one attacking batter can completely transform a difficult target.

World Cup matches also carry more pressure than ordinary bilateral ODIs. A batter who scores quickly must balance aggression with the risk of losing a wicket in a tournament where every result can affect qualification.

That combination of speed, pressure and match importance is why the fastest World Cup centuries remain some of cricket’s most memorable innings.

FAQs

Who scored the fastest century in ODI World Cup history?

Glenn Maxwell holds the record. He reached his century from only 40 balls for Australia against the Netherlands in Delhi during the 2023 World Cup.

Who held the fastest World Cup century record before Glenn Maxwell?

Aiden Markram briefly held the record after scoring a 49-ball hundred against Sri Lanka in 2023. Maxwell broke it 18 days later.

What is the fastest World Cup century by an Indian?

KL Rahul holds India’s record with a 62-ball century against the Netherlands in Bengaluru during the 2023 World Cup.

What is the fastest World Cup century by a Pakistani batter?

Fakhar Zaman holds Pakistan’s record after reaching 100 from 63 balls against New Zealand during the 2023 World Cup.

How fast was Kevin O’Brien’s World Cup century?

Kevin O’Brien reached his century from 50 balls against England in 2011. His record remained unbeaten until Aiden Markram scored a 49-ball hundred in 2023.

Has anyone scored two centuries among the fastest five World Cup hundreds?

Yes. Glenn Maxwell appears twice in the top five. He scored a 51-ball century against Sri Lanka in 2015 and a record 40-ball century against the Netherlands in 2023.