T20 cricket is ruthless. You don’t get time to play yourself in, no luxury of waiting for the bowlers to tire. You walk in, and from ball one, you’re in a battle. Since its launch in 2003, this format has changed everything—batsmen have become more fearless, bowlers have had to rethink their entire approach, and fans? They’ve been treated to a spectacle.
Scoring a hundred in T20 cricket is no joke. You’ve got 120 balls for the entire team, and if you’re going to take up a chunk of them, you better make it count. It’s not just about swinging for the fences—it’s about precision, reading the game, and knowing exactly when to go hard. A century in T20 isn’t just another statistic; it’s a match-winner, a game-changer, the difference between a routine win and a night fans talk about for years.
Over the years, a handful of players have cracked the code. They’ve adapted, evolved, and made this format their playground. These are the names that dominate record books, the players who see 100 as an expectation, not a dream. And when they get going, there’s nothing a bowler can do but watch the ball disappear into the stands. Play here to feel like a record-breaking player.
What Defines a Century in T20 Cricket?
Scoring a hundred in T20 cricket is like trying to run a marathon at sprint speed. You’ve got a limited number of balls, a bowler in your face every few seconds, and a fielding side desperate to shut you down. It’s a battle from the first delivery, and not many come out on top.
A century in cricket means hitting 100 runs in a single innings, but in the T20 format, it’s a completely different beast. You don’t have the luxury of blocking deliveries or taking your time. You have 120 balls in an innings—split across 11 players—so if you’re going to get a hundred, you better be clinical. Every shot matters. Every single needs intent. You need to go after the bowlers without losing your wicket, and that’s where the real challenge lies.
A T20 hundred doesn’t just add to a player’s stats—it wrecks the opposition. It flips the game on its head, forces captains to rethink their plans, and puts the bowling attack under relentless pressure. Get a century in this format, and you haven’t just played well—you’ve taken complete control of the match.
Players with the Most Centuries in T20 International Cricket
Scoring a century in T20 International cricket isn’t for the weak. It takes a ruthless mindset, the ability to dominate world-class bowlers, and a level of consistency that separates great players from the rest. Some players step in and swing wildly, hoping for a big innings once in a while. Others? They make scoring hundreds look like routine work.
A few names stand out when you talk about the most centuries in T20 international cricket. These guys have been tearing apart bowling attacks for years, adapting to different conditions, handling pressure, and delivering when it matters. They don’t just survive in this format—they own it.
Top Players with the Most Centuries in T20 Internationals (as of March 2025)
| Rank | Player | Country | Matches | Centuries | Highest Score | Strike Rate |
| 1 | Rohit Sharma | India | 159 | 5 | 118 | 140.89 |
| 2 | Glenn Maxwell | Australia | 116 | 5 | 145* | 154.97 |
| 3 | Suryakumar Yadav | India | 83 | 4 | 117 | 167.07 |
| 4 | Babar Azam | Pakistan | 128 | 3 | 122 | 129.22 |
| 5 | Colin Munro | New Zealand | 65 | 3 | 109* | 156.44 |
Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell lead the pack with five centuries each, but their styles couldn’t be more different. Rohit builds his innings like a surgeon, waiting for his moment before destroying an attack. Maxwell? He plays like a man possessed—reckless, unpredictable, but deadly.
Then there’s Suryakumar Yadav, a modern-day freak with a strike rate that leaves bowlers shell-shocked. Babar Azam is all class, blending timing with precision, while Colin Munro was one of the earliest pioneers of fearless T20 batting.
These are the guys who don’t just make runs. They make statements. And when they get a hundred, the opposition knows the game is slipping away.
Who Has the Most Centuries in T20 International Cricket?
If you’re talking about the best century-makers in T20 internationals, two names sit right at the top—Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell. As of March 17, 2025, both have smashed five centuries in T20I cricket, and they’ve done it in completely different ways.
Rohit Sharma – The Timeless Technician
Rohit Sharma makes batting look effortless. His timing is second to none, and when he’s in the mood, there’s not a bowler in the world who can stop him. He can start slow, assess the conditions, and then flick a switch to go berserk. With a highest T20I score of 118 and a strike rate of 140.89 in 159 matches, he’s been a nightmare for bowlers for over a decade. The man doesn’t just score runs—he dictates games.
Glenn Maxwell – The Unpredictable Destroyer
Maxwell plays cricket like a man who doesn’t believe in fear. He’s chaotic, aggressive, and at times, utterly unplayable. His best T20I knock, an unbeaten 145, is a testament to his raw power, and his 154.97 strike rate over 116 matches tells you everything you need to know. The bowlers don’t know what’s coming next—reverse sweeps, switch hits, straight drives—it’s all part of the madness that makes him so dangerous.
Why They’re Different, Yet Equally Lethal
Sharma and Maxwell don’t play the same way, but both have changed games single-handedly. One dismantles attacks with calculated precision, the other with ruthless aggression. But when either of them gets a century, the result is almost always the same—the opposition is finished.
Most Centuries in T20 Cricket (Domestic & International)
T20 cricket isn’t just about the international scene. If anything, the real action happens in domestic and franchise leagues—IPL, BBL, CPL, PSL, and a dozen others. This is where players sharpen their skills, go head-to-head against the best, and truly build their reputations. And when it comes to scoring centuries across all T20 competitions, a few names stand out.
Chris Gayle – The Undisputed King
If T20 cricket had a godfather, it would be Chris Gayle. He didn’t just play the format—he owned it. No one comes close to his 22 T20 centuries, which he hammered out in 455 innings, racking up 14,562 runs between 2005 and 2022. Whether it was IPL, CPL, or any other league, if Gayle got going, the bowlers might as well pack up and go home.
Babar Azam – The Run Machine
While Gayle went the brute force route, Babar Azam built his legacy on elegance and consistency. A batter who makes scoring look easy, Babar has 11 T20 centuries in 298 innings, piling up 11,020 runs from 2012 to 2024. He might not be the biggest hitter, but his ability to find gaps and keep the scoreboard ticking is second to none.
Virat Kohli – The Chase Master
Virat Kohli doesn’t just score runs—he hunts them down. A master of pacing an innings, Kohli has 9 T20 centuries in 382 innings, amassing 12,886 runs between 2007 and 2024. While others look for the big shots, Kohli dismantles attacks with precision, waiting for the right moment to strike.
These players don’t just have numbers next to their names—they’ve changed the way T20 cricket is played. Whether it’s brute power, flawless timing, or relentless efficiency, each of them has dominated in their own way. And no matter how many new stars emerge, their legacy in the shortest format is untouchable.
Most Centuries in T20 International Cricket by Team
Some teams thrive in T20 cricket, and it’s no accident. You need aggressive batsmen, the right mindset, and conditions that allow players to go big. Some countries have figured this out better than others, producing players who consistently turn up and rack up centuries.
Batting-friendly pitches play a huge role. Subcontinental surfaces, especially in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, are built for run-fests. The ball comes nicely onto the bat, and boundaries aren’t massive, making it a paradise for stroke-makers. Then there’s the influence of domestic leagues. The IPL, BBL, PSL, and CPL have turned good batsmen into relentless run-machines, sharpening their ability to take apart any attack, anywhere.
Teams with the Most Individual Centuries in T20 Internationals (as of March 2025)
- India – 13 centuries
- New Zealand – 10 centuries
- South Africa – 8 centuries
- Australia – 7 centuries
- West Indies – 6 centuries
India leads the pack, and that’s no surprise. With a deep pool of attacking batsmen and a league like the IPL that breeds fearlessness, their players know how to go big. New Zealand might not have the same star power, but their openers and top-order batsmen have been consistently ruthless over the years.
South Africa, Australia, and West Indies follow closely, with their own mix of power-hitters and technical batters. And let’s not forget—most T20 centuries come from openers or top-order batsmen. Get in early, face more balls, and the big scores come. That’s how it works. The best teams understand this, and that’s why they dominate.
What It Takes to Score a T20 Century
Scoring a hundred in T20 cricket isn’t a fluke. It’s not about one lucky innings or a purple patch. It’s about skill, mentality, and an understanding of the game that sets certain players apart from the rest. Some players swing hard and hope for the best. The greats? They know exactly what they’re doing.
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Attacking Mindset and Shot Selection
If you’re playing T20 cricket and not looking to dominate from ball one, you’re wasting your time. The best century-makers don’t just rely on one or two big shots; they have the full range—power, placement, and the ability to improvise. They don’t wait for the bowlers to make mistakes. They force them into errors.
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Modern Training and Conditioning
T20 cricket today isn’t what it was a decade ago. Players are fitter, stronger, and trained specifically for high-intensity batting. It’s not just about hitting sixes—it’s about lasting 15 overs at full throttle, sprinting between the wickets, and still having the energy to take on the death overs. Those who can’t keep up physically get left behind.
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Pitch and Power-Hitting Conditions
The conditions matter. A flat track with short boundaries and a quick outfield? Expect fireworks. A sluggish pitch that doesn’t offer pace? The batters who can adapt find a way to reach triple figures. The best in the business don’t complain about conditions—they adjust, they execute, and they deliver.
A T20 century doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a calculated assault, built on skill, intelligence, and sheer determination. And if you’re not prepared to take risks, you’ve already lost.
“Scoring a T20 century is about skill, precision, and power. The best players know how to adapt, accelerate, and outsmart the opposition.” – Cricket Expert
T20 cricket isn’t standing still. It’s moving at breakneck speed, and the batsmen are the ones setting the pace. Every year, the boundaries get cleared more often, the scoring rates go up, and what was once considered an impossible innings is now just another day at the office. The game has changed, and it’s the fearless players driving that evolution.
Centuries used to be a rarity in this format. Now, they’re expected. Players are stronger, smarter, and better trained to attack from ball one. Bowlers have no room to breathe, and the best batters know exactly how to exploit even the slightest weakness. This is modern cricket—relentless, unpredictable, and ruthless.
And it’s not stopping here. The way things are going, the records we talk about today will be shattered tomorrow. The bar keeps rising, and the best players will keep finding ways to go even bigger. The next generation of T20 batsmen won’t be looking to survive—they’ll be aiming to dominate.
Frequently asked questions
- Who has the most centuries in T20 International cricket?
As of March 17, 2025, both Rohit Sharma (India) and Glenn Maxwell (Australia) hold the record for the most T20I centuries, with five each.
- Which team has the most centuries in T20 Internationals?
India leads with 13 individual centuries scored by its players in T20Is.
- Who has the fastest T20 century ever?
Sahil Chauhan holds the record for the fastest T20 century, achieved in 27 balls against Cyprus in 2024
- How many T20 centuries does Chris Gayle have?
Chris Gayle has scored two centuries in T20 Internationals and 22 centuries across all T20 matches.
- What is the highest individual T20 score ever?
Chris Gayle’s 175 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2013 IPL remains the highest individual score in T20 cricket.
