The record for most centuries in T20I cricket belongs to Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma, who has hit four tons in the shortest format of the game.
Rohit, the second leading run-getter in T20I cricket, made his T20I debut against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup. He didn’t get to bat in the iconic match, which is famous for Yuvraj Singh slamming six sixes in an over.
On his first outing with the bat, the Mumbai-born batter slammed an impressive unbeaten half-century off 40 balls against South Africa. The knock included seven boundaries and two sixes.
Rohit’s first century in T20I cricket came eight years after his debut. In the 2015 Dharamsala T20I against South Africa, the opener slammed a 66-ball 106 and became the second T20I centurion for India after Suresh Raina (101 vs West Indies, 2010). The game, however, ended in South Africa’s favour as the Proteas won by seven wickets.
The Hitman’s second century has a bit of history attached to it. Rohit Sharma notched his ton in 35 balls against Sri Lanka in 2017, and ended his innings with 118 runs in 43 balls. His effort saw him become the joint-fastest centurion in T20I cricket with South Africa’s David Miller (vs Bangladesh, 2017).
In the 2018 home series against West Indies, Rohit slammed an unbeaten 111 in 61 deliveries and would become the first cricketer to score four centuries in T20I cricket. The knock, laced with eight boundaries and seven sixes, led India to a convincing 71-run victory in Lucknow.
Most centuries in T20I cricket
|
Player |
Matches |
Runs |
Centuries |
|
Rohit Sharma |
147 |
3,826 |
4 |
|
Glenn Maxwell |
98 |
2,159 |
3 |
|
Colin Munro |
65 |
1,724 |
3 |
|
Aaron Finch |
103 |
3,120 |
2 |
|
Chris Gayle |
79 |
1,899 |
2 |
Australia’s Glenn Maxwell and New Zealand’s Colin Munro are joint-second on the list for most centuries in T20I cricket. The batters have three T20I tons to their name.
Maxwell, one of Australia’s most prolific batters in the shortest format, took 49 balls to register his maiden century in T20 internationals against Sri Lanka in 2016. He would end the game with the third-highest individual score in T20I cricket - 145 not out in 65 balls.
His next two centuries came against England and India. As a matter of fact, Glenn Maxwell has remained unbeaten in every 100-plus knock he has scored so far. The all-rounder is also the first overseas cricketer to score a T20I ton on Indian soil (115* vs India, Bangalore).
Colin Munro has hit his T20I centuries against India, Bangladesh and the West Indies. His highest score came in India, where he slammed an unbeaten 109 runs off 58 balls to guide New Zealand to a 40-run victory.
Eight players have scored two centuries in T20I cricket, of which Australia’s Aaron Finch and West Indies icon Chris Gayle are record makers. Finch, on one hand, holds the record for the highest individual score in T20I cricket with his 76-ball 172 against Zimbabwe in 2018.
Gayle, the highest run-getter in T20 cricket, is remembered as the first cricketer ever to hit a century in T20 international cricket. In the opening match of the 2007 T20 World Cup against hosts South Africa, the Universe Boss hit 117 off 57 balls to guide the Men in Maroon to a score of 205/6 in 20 overs. However, his efforts went in vain as the Windies slumped to an eight-wicket loss.
Author: William Paul
Featured photo: AFP / Dibyangshu SARKAR
