Most Centuries in T20 World Cup History

 

Scoring a hundred in T20 cricket is a rare feat, requiring a batsman to walk a tightrope between aggression and control. But to achieve this on the grandest stage – the T20 World Cup – elevates such an accomplishment to legendary status.

 

Chris Gayle: The Undisputed King

Leading the pack is the undisputed king of T20 mayhem, Chris Gayle. The “Universe Boss” is the only player in T20 World Cup history to notch more than one century.  In 2007, at the tournament’s Johannesburg debut, Gayle etched his name in history with the first-ever T20 World Cup hundred – a brutal 117 off just 57 balls against South Africa.

But Gayle wasn’t done. Nine years later, at the Wankhede Stadium in India, he silenced a raging English attack with another hundred, a rapid-fire 48-ball ton laced with 11 sixes. This knock was particularly significant as it set the tone for West Indies’ eventual title run in that tournament.

 

Brendon McCullum: The Fastest Show in Town

New Zealand’s legendary Brendon McCullum wasn’t to be outdone in the audacity department. During a Group D encounter against Bangladesh in the 2012 edition at Pallekele, McCullum unleashed a whirlwind 123 runs off just 58 balls. This innings remains the highest individual score ever recorded in a T20 World Cup match. McCullum’s onslaught included 11 boundaries and a staggering seven sixes, leaving Bangladeshi bowlers bewildered as he maintained a mind-boggling strike rate of over 212.

 

Rilee Rossouw: The Master of Efficiency

While the list boasts players with the highest scores, South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw finds himself in esteemed company for a different reason – speed.  With only 11 centuries ever recorded in T20 World Cup history, Rossouw owns one of the fastest. During the 2022 edition at the SCG, he unleashed a brutal assault on Bangladesh bowlers, reaching his lone T20 World Cup ton in a mere 52 deliveries. His final score of 109 off 56 balls stood at a staggering strike rate of nearly 195. Notably, Rossouw’s knock was so dominant that it outscored Bangladesh’s entire team total (101 all out).

 

These three players, with their contrasting styles, represent the pinnacle of T20 batting in the World Cup. As the 2024 edition unfolds, the question lingers: will a new name join this elite club, or will these titans continue to reign supreme?