The ICC men’s T20 World Cup is here after a gap of five years. The World Cup, this time around is going to the USA for the very first time. The matches will be played in three cities in the USA: Dallas, New York and Florida. West Indies are the co-hosts of the event this time around and the matches will also be played in six venues across the Caribbean islands.
The T20 World Cup 2024 is the biggest event in the tournament’s history with as many as 20 teams taking part. As you all know, the T20 format is heavily inclined towards the batters. They like to score quick runs, but it is also fraught with risk and danger. While there have been plenty of fifties scored at the T20 World Cup, centuries have still been a rare event. So who has scored most centuries in the T20 World Cup? The answer to this question is not surprising. The Universe Boss Chris Gayle has the most T20 centuries and the most centuries in T20 World Cup as well.
In all, there have been 11 centuries hit in T20 cricket World Cup, out of which Gayle is the only cricketer to have scored two centuries in the tournament. Ten other batters have scored one century each in the eight editions before this.
Here’s more about who has scored most hundreds in T20 World Cup history.
List of hundreds at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Team | Opposition | Year |
| Chris Gayle | 117 | 57 | West Indies | South Africa | 2007 |
| Suresh Raina | 101 | 60 | India | South Africa | 2010 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 100 | 64 | Sri Lanka | Zimbabwe | 2010 |
| Brendon McCullum | 123 | 58 | New Zealand | Bangladesh | 2012 |
| Alex Hales | 116 | 64 | England | Sri Lanka | 2014 |
| Ahmed Shehzad | 111 | 62 | Pakistan | Bangladesh | 2014 |
| Tamim Iqbal | 103 | 63 | Bangladesh | Oman | 2016 |
| Chris Gayle | 100 | 48 | West Indies | England | 2016 |
| Jos Buttler | 101 | 67 | England | Sri Lanka | 2021 |
| Rilee Rossouw | 109 | 56 | South Africa | Bangladesh | 2022 |
| Glenn Phillips | 104 | 64 | New Zealand | Sri Lanka | 2022 |
Chris Gayle – 117 vs South Africa in Johannesburg and 100* vs England in Mumbai
Chris Gayle is the batter with most centuries in T20 World Cup history. He is the only one on the list to record two hundreds in T20 World Cup history. He scored his first century in the very first match of the T20 World Cup back in 2007 when he smashed 117 off 57 balls against South Africa in Johannesburg. His innings took West Indies to a mammoth 205 for 6 in their 20 overs. However, South Africa were able to chase the target down.
Gayle’s second hundred in the competition came nine years later at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Chasing England’s 183 for a win, Gayle stepped on the gas right away and hacked an unbeaten 100 off just 48 balls, giving his side a big seven-wicket win with 11 balls to spare. He was named player of the match for his effort.
Suresh Raina – 101 vs South Africa in Gros Islet
Suresh Raina became the first and to date remains the only Indian to score a century at the T20 World Cup. He claimed the record against South Africa in a group game in the 2010 T20 World Cup. Batting first, India were helped by Raina’s 60-ball 101 to post a mammoth 186 for 5. He hit nine fours and five sixes during his knock. His innings helped India claim the match by 14 runs. The likes of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav will be keen on breaking Raina’s record in the 2024 edition.
Mahela Jayawardene – 100 vs Zimbabwe in Providence
The Sri Lankan stalwart scored his century the very next day after Raina did. Jayawardene got his ton against Zimbabwe. It came off 64 balls and included ten fours and four sixes. His innings helped Sri Lanka post a strong 173 for 7 in their 20 overs. Sri Lanka won the game by 14 runs (DLS method).
Brendon McCullum – 123 vs Bangladesh in Pallekele
The former New Zealand captain still holds the record for the highest score in the history of T20 World Cup. He got to his century against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup 2012. Batting first, McCullum tore into the Bangladesh bowling unit, smashing his way to 123 off just 58 balls, his innings consisting of 11 fours and seven sixes. New Zealand posted 191 for 3 in their 20 overs and Bangladesh had no chance.
Alex Hales – 116* vs Sri Lanka in Chattogram
This one came in a chase and that makes Alex Hales’ innings even more special. Chasing 190, Hales hammered the Sri Lanka bowlers to all parts of the Chattogram stadium during the 2014 T20 World Cup. He finished with an unbeaten 116 off 64 balls as England won the game by six wickets.
Ahmed Shehzad – 111* vs Bangladesh in Mirpur
Ahmed Shehzad is the only Pakistan batter to score a century in the T20 World Cup. He achieved this record against Bangladesh in the 2014 T20 World Cup. Batting first, led by Shehzad’s unbeaten 62-ball 111, Pakistan posted 190 for 5. In reply, Bangladesh were restricted to 140 for 7. Can Babar Azam match the feat in the T20 World Cup?
Tamim Iqbal – 103* vs Oman in Dharamsala
Tamim Iqbal was in a punishing mood against Oman during the 2016 T20 World Cup in Dharamsala. He smashed 103 not out off just 63 balls, his innings including 10 fours and five sixes. Bangladesh posted 180 for 2 and won the game easily by 54 runs (DLS method).
Jos Buttler – 101* vs Sri Lanka in Sharjah
The England wicket-keeper batter scored an unbeaten 101 off 67 balls on a tough Sharjah surface during the 2021 T20 World Cup. It was almost a one-man effort with his innings taking England to 163 for 4. They won the game by 26 runs.
Rilee Rossouw – 109 vs Bangladesh in Sydney
The South Africa batter stitched a record partnership with Quinton de Kock and finished 109 off just 56 balls against Bangladesh in the 2022 T20 World Cup. He hit seven fours and eight sixes to take South Africa to 205 for 5.
Glenn Philips – 104 vs Sri Lanka in Sydney
Glenn Phillips’ was a one-man show as he scorched his way to 104 off just 64 balls when none of his other team-mates stood up in the 2022 T20 World Cup. He single-handedly took New Zealand to 167 for 7 and helped his side win the game by 65 runs.
FAQs
How many centuries are scored in the T20 World Cup?
There have been a total of 11 centuries in the T20 World Cup
How many players scored 100s in T20 World Cup?
A total of 10 players have scored 100s in the T20 World Cup. Surprisingly, no one from Australia has achieved the feat. Glenn Maxwell will try and change this record in 2024.
Who has the most 100s in overall T20 history?
Chris Gayle with 22 centuries has scored the most centuries in T20 history.
