- PLAYERS WHO CHANGED THE GAMEPLAYERS WHO CHANGED THE GAME
Top 10 Fastest Centuries in ODI Cricket History – Players Who Changed the Game
✅ Introduction: Speed, Power & Glory
One-Day Internationals (ODIs) have witnessed many awe-inspiring batting displays, but some centuries go beyond just runs—they redefine the limits of aggression and set new standards for modern cricket. In this post, we dive into the Top 10 Fastest Centuries in ODI Cricket History, covering the batsmen who not only broke records but also transformed the way the game is played. From AB de Villiers’ storm to Corey Anderson’s blitzkrieg, here are the players who changed the game.
1. Shahid Afridi (102 off 37 balls) – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1996
🎯 Match Summary:
- Date: October 4, 1996
- Venue: Nairobi, Kenya (Sameer Cup)
- Strike Rate: 276
- 100 off: 37 balls
📜 Background:
A 16-year-old Pathan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa walked in to bat at No. 3 for Pakistan and changed ODI history. Shahid Afridi’s 37-ball century stood as the fastest for over 17 years. He was initially included as a leg-spinner replacement but stunned the cricket world with his raw power and fearless hitting.
Highlights:
- Hit 11 sixes and 6 fours
- Most sixes in an ODI innings at the time
- Used Sachin Tendulkar’s bat (borrowed by Waqar Younis)
🎯 Impact:
Afridi’s knock shaped a new ODI batting culture—aggressive, fearless, entertaining. He became the poster boy of power-hitting and a cult hero for millions.
2. Jesse Ryder (104 off 46 balls) – New Zealand vs West Indies, 2014
🎯 Match Summary:
- Date: January 1, 2014
- Venue: Queenstown, New Zealand
- Strike Rate: 226
- 100 off: 46 balls
📜 Background:
Jesse Ryder was known for his explosive batting, but he went nuclear against the Windies. On a flat Queenstown pitch, Ryder dismantled the bowling attack with ruthless precision. His return to international cricket after disciplinary issues was nothing short of sensational.
Highlights:
- Scored 104 in just 51 balls
- Teamed up with Corey Anderson, who made the then-fastest ODI century
🎯 Impact:
While Corey Anderson took the spotlight, Ryder’s contribution was equally valuable. His innings showed how dual firepower at the top could completely unhinge opponents in ODIs.
3. Jos Buttler (116 off 46 balls) – England vs Netherlands, 2022
🎯 Match Summary:
- Date: June 17, 2022
- Venue: Amstelveen, Netherlands
- Strike Rate: 252.17
- 100 off: 47 balls
📜 Background:
Jos Buttler walked in with England already racing. He didn’t just continue the carnage—he took it to another dimension. Buttler’s 47-ball century was a part of England’s world record 498/4 total.
Highlights:
- 14 sixes and 7 fours
- Reached 100 in 47 balls
- Unbeaten on 162* off 70 balls
🎯 Impact:
Buttler’s innings reinforced England’s white-ball transformation—data-driven, ultra-aggressive, fearless cricket. It also announced his era as the world’s top limited-overs finisher.
4. Brian Lara (117 off 45 balls) – West Indies vs Bangladesh, 1999
🎯 Match Summary:
- Date: October 9, 1999
- Venue: Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Strike Rate: 260
- 100 off: 45 balls
📜 Background:
Though known for elegant stroke-play, Brian Lara showed he could be explosive too. Against Bangladesh, Lara scored one of the fastest ODI hundreds with pure timing, placement, and flair.
Highlights:
- Hit 18 boundaries
- Blended classic style with modern aggression
- Played as captain and led from the front
🎯 Impact:
This inning showed that even class players could switch gears when needed. Lara’s brilliance proved that shot selection and aggression can coexist.
5. Kevin O’Brien (113 off 50 balls) – Ireland vs England, 2011 World Cup
🎯 Match Summary:
- Date: March 2, 2011
- Venue: Bengaluru, India
- Strike Rate: 226
- 100 off: 50 balls
📜 Background:
On cricket’s biggest stage, Kevin O’Brien scripted one of the greatest World Cup upsets. Chasing 327, Ireland was staring at defeat when O’Brien launched an assault never seen before from an Associate team player.
Highlights:
- Fastest World Cup century (50 balls)
- Ireland chased down 327—highest WC chase
- Scored 113 with 13 boundaries and 6 sixes
🎯 Impact:
This knock gave Associate Nations a new identity. It was more than an individual performance; it was a movement. Kevin O’Brien became a national hero and inspired Ireland’s rise in cricket.
Top 10 Fastest Centuries in ODI Cricket History – Players Who Changed the Game
(Continued: Top 5 to 1)
6. Asif Khan (101* off 41 balls) – UAE vs Nepal, 2023
🎯 Match Summary:
- Date: March 16, 2023
- Venue: Tribhuvan University Ground, Kirtipur
- Strike Rate: 246.34
- 100 off: 41 balls
📜 Background:
UAE’s Asif Khan shocked the cricketing world with an unbeaten century off just 41 balls against Nepal. It was the fastest century ever by a No. 7 batter and the fourth-fastest in ODI history.
Highlights:
- Finished on 101* in just 42 balls
- Hit 11 fours and 4 sixes
- Turned the match around in death overs
🎯 Impact:
Asif’s knock signaled a message that Associate Nations are no longer underdogs. The innings helped UAE post a competitive total and caught the attention of major cricketing boards.
7. Mark Boucher (147* off 68 balls) – South Africa vs Zimbabwe, 2006
🎯 Match Summary:
- Date: September 20, 2006
- Venue: Potchefstroom, South Africa
- Strike Rate: 216.17
- 100 off: 44 balls
📜 Background:
Primarily known for his keeping, Mark Boucher displayed brutal power-hitting against Zimbabwe. Coming in when the top order had set the platform, he went on a rampage.
Highlights:
- Scored 147* off 68 balls
- Reached his century in 44 balls
- Helped South Africa post 418/5
🎯 Impact:
Boucher’s innings showed that wicketkeepers could be match-winners with the bat, influencing future selection philosophies around keeper-batsmen like Dhoni, Buttler, and de Kock.
8. Corey Anderson (131* off 47 balls) – New Zealand vs West Indies, 2014
🎯 Match Summary:
- Date: January 1, 2014
- Venue: Queenstown, New Zealand
- Strike Rate: 278.72
- 100 off: 36 balls
📜 Background:
For a while, Anderson held the record for the fastest ODI hundred, breaking Shahid Afridi’s 18-year reign. It came on New Year’s Day, making it a historic cricketing moment.
Highlights:
- 14 sixes and 6 fours
- Reached 100 in 36 balls
- Finished on 131* from just 47 deliveries
🎯 Impact:
Anderson’s knock catapulted him into global stardom. It redefined what was possible in ODIs, inspiring all-rounders to develop power-hitting skills.
9. AB de Villiers (149 off 44 balls) – South Africa vs West Indies, 2015
🎯 Match Summary:
- Date: January 18, 2015
- Venue: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Strike Rate: 338.63
- 100 off: 31 balls
📜 Background:
AB de Villiers took batting to a different planet. He didn’t just score a fast century; he made it look effortless, artistic, and entertaining. His 31-ball ton remains the fastest in ODI history.
Highlights:
- 16 sixes and 9 fours
- Reached 100 in 31 balls
- Scored 149 from 44 balls
- Shared a 192-run stand with Amla
🎯 Impact:
This knock revolutionized modern white-ball batting. AB’s 360° style was adopted by future players like Suryakumar Yadav and Glenn Maxwell. It remains the gold standard for explosive batting.
10. Fakhar Zaman (193 off 155 balls) –
AB de Villiers (31-ball century) – The Fastest Ever
Let’s revisit his 2015 masterclass:
- Opposition: West Indies
- Result: South Africa won by 148 runs
- Strike Rate: 338
- Historical Significance: Unmatched, iconic, jaw-dropping
📊 Comparative Table: Top 10 Fastest Centuries in ODI Cricket
| Rank | Player | Balls to 100 | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AB de Villiers | 31 | West Indies | 2015 |
| 2 | Corey Anderson | 36 | West Indies | 2014 |
| 3 | Shahid Afridi | 37 | Sri Lanka | 1996 |
| 4 | Brian Lara | 45 | Bangladesh | 1999 |
| 5 | Jos Buttler | 46 | Netherlands | 2022 |
| 6 | Jesse Ryder | 46 | West Indies | 2014 |
| 7 | Mark Boucher | 44 | Zimbabwe | 2006 |
| 8 | Asif Khan | 41 | Nepal | 2023 |
| 9 | Kevin O’Brien | 50 | England | 2011 |
| 10 | Fakhar Zaman | 100+ | South Africa | 2021 |
🧠 What Makes These Players Game-Changers?
- Innovative shot-making (AB de Villiers, Jos Buttler)
- Unmatched aggression (Afridi, Anderson)
- Match-winning temperament (O’Brien, Boucher)
- Role evolution (Buttler as a finisher, Anderson as an all-rounder)
These players changed not just records but the philosophy of modern ODI cricket.