Cricket : Fastest ODI Centuries Scorers of All Time

ODI cricket or 50 over cricket is very popular format of the cricket match since its inception. ODI cricket has been dominated mostly by the batsmen as ODI rules are more in favor to batsman than the bowlers. Here in this article we are going to see the list of fastest ODI hundred scorers in the ODI cricket history. Corey Anderson the all-rounder from New Zealand holds the record of fastest century in the history of ODI cricket. Corey Anderson scored the century in just 36 balls against West Indies hitting 12 sixes and bettered the record of Shahid Afridi by 1 ball.

Corey Anderson : Fastest ODI Century Scorer in ODI Cricket History

Earlier the record was held by Pakistan's flamboyant all-round cricketer Shahid Afridi. Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi scored 2nd fastest ODI century against Sri Lanka in just 37 balls hitting 11 sixes and 4 fours in his whirl wind inning way back in 1996. The record made by Afridi remained on top for approximately 18 long years. The below given list of fastest ODI century scorers is dominated by the cricketers from the Asian sub-continent.

Shahid Afridi : Fastest ODI Century Scorer from Asia

South African wicket-keeper batsman Mark Boucher holds the record of scoring 3rd fastest ODI hundred against Zimbabwe in 2006. Boucher completed his century in just 44 balls hitting 10 sixes and 8 fours. West Indies great batsman Brian Lara scored fourth fastest ODI hundred against Bangladesh in just 45 balls. Lara struck 4 sixes and 18 boundaries in 1999 to complete the century. Shahid Afridi also holds the record of scoring fifth fastest ODI century against the Indian in just 45 balls comprising of 9 sixes and 10 fours.

List of Fastest Century Scorers in ODI Cricket

Player(Country)	Runs	Balls	Sixes	Fours	Opponent	Year
Corey Anderson(NZ)	131*	36	14	06	WestIndies	2014
Shahid Afridi(PAK)	102	37	11	06	Sri Lanka	1996
Mark Boucher(RSA)	147*	44	10	18	Zimbabwe	2006
Brian Lara(WI)	117	45	04	18	Bangladesh	1999
Shahid Afridi(PAK)	102	45	09	10	India	2005
S Jayasuriya(SL)	134	48	11	11	Pakistan	1996
Kevin O’Brien(IRE)	113	50	06	13	England	2011
Virat Kohli(IND)	100*	52	07	08	Australia	2013
Shahid Afridi(PAK)	124	53	04	17	Bangladesh	2010
S Jayasuriya(SL)	130	55	06	16	Bangladesh	2008

Indian batting sensation Virat Kohli is only player from India to get his name into the list of fastest century scorers with hundred in just 52 balls. Virat Kohli scored this century against the Australia hitting 7 sixes and 8 fours in recently concluded Star-Sports ODI Cricket Series 2013. This list is dominated by Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi who has scored three of the top 10 fastest ODI hundreds followed by Sanath Jayasuriya who has two hundreds in his name. 

Virat Kohli : Fastest ODI Cricket Century Scorer from India

Apart from the Shahid Afridi and Sanath Jayasuriya players like Virat Kohli, Kevin O’Brien, Brian Lara and Mark Boucher have their name in the list of top 10 fastest ODI century scorers in ODI cricket history. This list is quite surprising as it doesn't have a single player from the Australian cricket team. Australian team has dominated the ODI cricket along with the West Indies for the most period of time since the inception of ODI cricket. 

There have been many changes in the ODI cricket rules such as two new balls in an innings and presence of 4 fielders at most in an inning. The way rule of ODI cricket has changed this list is definitely going to see the addition of the new names in the near future soon as these rules are more suitable for the free scoring of batsman. Inception of the T20 cricket has also helped batsman to play more strokes even in the 50 over format of cricket.

Rohit Sharma 14th Indian Cricketer to Score Century on Test Debut

Rohit Sharma who has been in incredible form in ODI became 14th Indian test player to score century on test debut. Rohit Sharma who scored 209 runs against the mighty Australia played another great knock but this time in test format. Rohit Sharma waited very long to get test ticket finally got the opportunity due to place left out by all-rounder Ravindera Jadeja due to injury and Sharma grabbed that with both hands. Rohit Sharma earlier became only third cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar and Virendra Sehwag to score double hundred in ODI also has more than 1000 runs in 2013 calendar year which helped him to get into Indian test cricket team.

Rohit Sharma : 14th Indian Cricketer to Score Century in Debut Test

Rohit Sharma also made a record as an Indian player to play highest number of ODI matches before getting a test cap. Rohit Sharma got this opportunity against the West Indies after playing 108 ODI matches for India. Rohit got the test cap from the highest run scorer in test cricket the “God of Cricket” Sachin Tendulkar in his last cricket series. He became second test cricket player for India to make hundred in test debut in 2013 along with left handed Shikhar Dhawan who scored 187 runs on debut against the Australians.

Rohit Sharma became 14^th Indian cricket to score a century on the test debut while 98^th cricketer in world. He was looking to become first Indian cricketer to score a double century but got out on well made 177 runs hitting 23 boundaries along with 1 six in his inning. This calendar year has been incredible for Rohit Sharma as he won IPL 2013 for the Mumbai Indians for the first time while Champions League Twenty20 for second time after Harbhajan Singh as a skipper. He also cemented his place as a team India opener in ODI and scored more than 1000 runs as well as career best 209 against the Australia.

Rohit Sharma 3rd Cricketer to Score Double Hundred in ODI

Indian Cricketers Who Scored Century in Debut Test Match

Player Name	Score	Opposition	Venue	Year
Shikhar Dhawan	187	Australia	Mohali	2012-13
Rohit Sharma	177	West Indies	Kolkata	2013-14
G Vishwanath	137	Australia	Kanpur	1969-70
Sourav Ganguly	131	England	Lord’s	1996-97
S Amarnath	124	New Zealand	Auckland	1975-76
Suresh Raina	120	Sri Lanka	Colombo	2010-11
Lala Amarnath	118	England	Mumbai	1933-34
Abbas Ali Baig	112	England	Manchester	1959-60
Roshan Shodhan	110	Pakistan	Kolkata	1952-53
Md. Azharuddin	110	England	Kolkata	1984-85
Hanumant Singh	105	England	Delhi	1963-64
Virendra Sehwag	105	South Africa	Bloemfontein	2001-02
Pravin Amre	103	South Africa	Durban	1992-93
Kripal Singh	102	New Zealand	Hyderabad	1955-56

With the hundred in debut test match Rohit has hinted that he is also a serious contender for the No.4 slot in Indian test team after the retirement of great Sachin Tendulkar. Rohit Sharma is considered as the most talented young cricketer not only by Indian cricket experts but by the great cricket critics and cricket legend like Ian Chappell. Now, as Rohit Sharma got a perfect start to his test career all he need is to carry it forward and play long for the team India.

Rohit Sharma who is popularly called as the “Hitman” by his team India team-mates missed his opportunity back in 2010 as he got injured just before the toss. After that he had to wait for two long years for another  chance in test cricket. I still believe he is much better test cricketer than the ODI as his game is more suited to the test format and his domestic record also indicates that. Rohit Sharma is going to be tested more in the South African tour where India is scheduled to tour next.