Batting has completely changed in white-ball cricket in the last couple of decades or so.
Batters no longer feel the pressure of losing their wickets, even while chasing. And since they play with free will, they look to score as many runs off fewer balls. This has resulted in some of the fastest centuries in chases.
So here’s a look at the fastest centuries scored in ODI run chases.
Fastest Centuries in ODI Run Chases
| Balls to 100 | Player | Runs | Result | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 102 | Won | IND | Kanpur | 15 Apr 2005 |
| 50 | Kevin O’Brien (IRE) | 113 | Won | ENG | Bangalore | 02 Mar 2011 |
| 52 | Virat Kohli (IND) | 100* | Won | AUS | Jaipur | 16 Oct 2013 |
| 53 | Saim Ayub (PAK) | 113* | Won | ZIM | Bulawayo | 26 Nov 2024 |
| 54 | Jonny Bairstow (ENG) | 105 | Lost | SCO | Edinburgh | 10 Jun 2018 |
| 54 | Heinrich Klaasen (SA) | 119* | Won | WI | Potchefstroom | 21 Mar 2023 |
| 54 | Sikandar Raza (ZIM) | 102* | Won | NED | Harare | 20 Jun 2023 |
| 55 | Chris Gayle (WI) | 162 | Lost | ENG | St George’s | 27 Feb 2019 |
| 57 | James Faulkner (AUS) | 116 | Lost | IND | Bangalore | 02 Nov 2013 |
| 57 | Thisara Perera (SL) | 140 | Lost | NZ | Mount Maunganui | 04 Jan 2019 |
| 57 | Michael Bracewell (NZ) | 140 | Lost | IND | Hyderabad | 18 Jan 2023 |
| 58 | Jonny Bairstow (ENG) | 104 | Won | NZ | Christchurch | 10 Mar 2018 |
| 60 | Virender Sehwag (IND) | 125* | Won | NZ | Hamilton | 11 Mar 2009 |
| 60 | Jatinder Singh (OMA) | 107 | Won | NEP | Al Amerat | 14 Sep 2021 |
| 60 | Muhammad Waseem (UAE) | 119 | Won | PNG | Kirtipur | 15 Mar 2023 |
Key Insights on Fastest ODI Centuries in Run Chases
Fastest Individual Hundreds in ODI Chases
Shahid Afridi has recorded the fastest centuries in run chases in ODIs. He took just 45 balls to reach 100 against India in the 2005 Kanpur ODI. This is also the fastest ODI hundred in a successful run chase.
The 45-ball century is the second-fastest for Afridi and Pakistan in the ODI format, behind his 37-ball ton against Sri Lanka in Nairobi in 1996.
Kevin O’Brien’s 50-ball century against England in 2011 is the fastest by a batter in a run chase in the Cricket World Cup. This is, overall, the third-fastest hundred in the World Cup and the fastest for Ireland in ODIs. (Check out fastest hundreds for each ODI team)
Virat Kohli’s 52-ball 100* against Australia in 2013 is the fastest century by an Indian batter in ODIs. This is also the quickest ODI ton by a batter in a run chase on home soil.
Fastest ODI Century in Unsuccessful Run Chase.
Jonny Bairstow’s 54-ball hundred against Scotland in 2018 is the fastest by a batter in an unsuccessful ODI run chase. Despite his effort, England lost the Edinburgh ODI by six runs.
Bairstow is the only batter with two sub-60-ball centuries in ODI run chases.
James Faulker (vs IND, 2013), Thisara Perera (vs NZ, 2019) and Michael Bracewell (vs IND, 2023) have scored the joint fastest centuries at No. 7 in ODI run chases, off 57 balls each. Notably, all three hundreds came in losing causes.
Fastest ODI Tons by Captains and Wicketkeepers in Run Chases
Muhammad Waseem’s 60-ball effort for UAE against Papua New Guinea in 2023 is the fastest hundred by a captain in an ODI run chase.
Mushfiqur Rahim has scored the fastest century as a wicketkeeper in an ODI run chase. He smashed a 60-ball 100* against Ireland in the 2023 Sylhet ODI.
Fastest Double Century in ODI Run Chase
Shubman Gill has brought up the fastest double century in an ODI run chase. He needed 117 deliveries to score the double ton against the West Indies in the 2026 Guwahati ODI.
Gill eventually remained unbeaten on 223, the highest individual score in an ODI run chase. This is also the highest score by a captain in an ODI innings.
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