Chris Gayle leads the list of players with the most centuries in T20 World Cup history, having scored 2 hundreds between 2007 and 2016. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has produced countless memorable batting displays since the first tournament in 2007. Centuries play a big role in helping teams win matches, especially in high-pressure games where batters need to take control.
Scoring a century in T20 cricket requires both skill and composure. Batters must maintain a high strike rate while staying at the crease long enough to reach the three-figure mark. In this article, we examine the complete list of centuries scored in T20 World Cup history.
List of Hundreds In T20 World Cup History
Let’s take a closer look at the batting achievements in the T20 World Cup.
| # | Player | Score | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CH Gayle (WI) | 117 | 57 | 7 | 10 | 205.26 | v South Africa | Johannesburg | 11 Sep 2007 |
| 2 | SK Raina (IND) | 101 | 60 | 9 | 5 | 168.33 | v South Africa | Gros Islet | 2 May 2010 |
| 3 | DPMD Jayawardene (SL) | 100 | 64 | 10 | 4 | 156.25 | v Zimbabwe | Providence | 3 May 2010 |
| 4 | BB McCullum (NZ) | 123 | 58 | 11 | 7 | 212.06 | v Bangladesh | Pallekele | 21 Sep 2012 |
| 5 | AD Hales (ENG) | 116* | 64 | 11 | 6 | 181.25 | v Sri Lanka | Chattogram | 27 Mar 2014 |
| 6 | Ahmed Shehzad (PAK) | 111* | 62 | 10 | 5 | 179.03 | v Bangladesh | Mirpur | 30 Mar 2014 |
| 7 | Tamim Iqbal (BAN) | 103* | 63 | 10 | 5 | 163.49 | v Oman | Dharamsala | 13 Mar 2016 |
| 8 | CH Gayle (WI) | 100* | 48 | 5 | 11 | 208.33 | v England | Wankhede | 16 Mar 2016 |
| 9 | JC Buttler (ENG) | 101* | 67 | 6 | 6 | 150.74 | v Sri Lanka | Sharjah | 1 Nov 2021 |
| 10 | RR Rossouw (SA) | 109 | 56 | 7 | 8 | 194.64 | v Bangladesh | Sydney | 27 Oct 2022 |
| 11 | GD Phillips (NZ) | 104 | 64 | 10 | 4 | 162.50 | v Sri Lanka | Sydney | 29 Oct 2022 |
1. Chris Gayle (2 Centuries)
Chris Gayle holds the record for the most centuries in T20 World Cup history with 2 hundreds. The West Indies legend played 33 matches between 2007 and 2021. He scored 965 runs at an average of 34.46 with a strike rate of 142.75.
| Player | Span | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH Gayle (WI) | 2007-2021 | 33 | 31 | 965 | 117 | 34.46 | 142.75 | 2 |
Gayle scored the first-ever century in T20 World Cup history when he smashed 117 against South Africa in 2007. He opened the innings at Johannesburg and hammered 7 fours and 10 sixes off just 57 balls. The knock helped West Indies post 205/6, though South Africa chased down the target.
Nine years later, Gayle bettered his own record during the 2016 T20 World Cup. He blasted an unbeaten 100 off 48 balls against England at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The innings included 11 sixes, which remains the most in a single T20 World Cup innings. He remains the only player to score two centuries in the tournament’s history.
2. Brendon McCullum (123)
Brendon McCullum holds the record for the highest individual score in T20 World Cup history with 123 runs. The New Zealand opener achieved this feat against Bangladesh in the 2012 edition at Pallekele.
| Player | Span | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB McCullum (NZ) | 2007-2016 | 37 | 35 | 934 | 123 | 28.30 | 136.44 | 1 |
McCullum walked in after Martin Guptill’s early dismissal and took complete control of the innings. He reached his century in 51 balls and finished with 123 off 58 deliveries. His innings included 11 fours and 7 sixes at a strike rate of 212.06.
The explosive knock helped New Zealand post 191/3, and they won the match by 59 runs. McCullum’s century broke Chris Gayle’s record of 117 as the highest score in the tournament. The innings showcased his ability to dominate any bowling attack on his day.
3. Suresh Raina (101)
Suresh Raina became the first Indian to score a century in the T20 World Cup history. He achieved this feat against South Africa during the 2010 edition at Gros Islet.
| Player | Span | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SK Raina (IND) | 2007-2016 | 29 | 26 | 619 | 101 | 28.13 | 135.01 | 1 |
Raina walked in during the first over after Murali Vijay’s dismissal. He started cautiously but accelerated brilliantly in the back end. After reaching his fifty in 42 balls, he smashed his next 51 runs off just 18 deliveries.
His innings of 101 off 60 balls included 9 fours and 5 sixes. The knock helped India post 186/5, and they defended the total successfully by 14 runs. Raina later became the first Indian to score centuries in all three formats of international cricket.
4. Mahela Jayawardene (100)
Mahela Jayawardene became the first Sri Lankan to score a century in the T20 World Cup. He achieved this milestone against Zimbabwe during the 2010 edition at Providence, Guyana.
| Player | Span | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPMD Jayawardene (SL) | 2007-2014 | 31 | 31 | 1016 | 100 | 39.07 | 134.74 | 1 |
Jayawardene played a classy innings of 100 off 64 balls. He struck 10 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 156.25. The knock helped Sri Lanka dominate the match against Zimbabwe.
The elegant right-hander topped the run charts in that edition with 302 runs at an average of 60.40. Jayawardene later captained Sri Lanka to their first and only T20 World Cup title in 2014. His century remains one of the finest batting displays in tournament history.
5. Alex Hales (116*)
Alex Hales scored his unbeaten 116 against Sri Lanka during the 2014 T20 World Cup at Chattogram. The England opener played a match-winning knock that showcased his power-hitting abilities.
| Player | Span | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AD Hales (ENG) | 2012-2022 | 25 | 25 | 644 | 116* | 28.00 | 129.98 | 1 |
Hales smashed 116 not out off 64 balls with 11 fours and 6 sixes. His strike rate of 181.25 highlighted his aggressive approach against the Sri Lankan bowlers.
The left-hander’s century helped England post a massive total in the group stage match. Hales formed a devastating opening partnership with Michael Lumb and dominated the bowling attack. The knock remains one of the highest scores by an England batter in T20 World Cup history.
6. Ahmed Shehzad (111*)
Ahmed Shehzad scored an unbeaten 111 against Bangladesh during the 2014 T20 World Cup at Mirpur. He became the first Pakistani to score a century in the history of the T20 World Cup.
| Player | Span | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmed Shehzad (PAK) | 2012-2014 | 8 | 8 | 224 | 111* | 37.33 | 126.55 | 1 |
Shehzad’s innings of 111 not out came off 62 balls with 10 fours and 5 sixes. He batted at a strike rate of 179.03 and guided Pakistan to a comfortable victory.
The century helped Shehzad achieve the feat of scoring hundreds in all three formats of international cricket. His knock against Bangladesh remains the highest score by a Pakistani batter in T20 World Cup history. The innings showcased his elegant stroke-play and ability to anchor big chases.
7. Tamim Iqbal (103*)
Tamim Iqbal scored an unbeaten 103 against Oman during the 2016 T20 World Cup at Dharamsala. The Bangladesh opener played a commanding knock that set up an easy victory for his team.
| Player | Span | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamim Iqbal (BAN) | 2007-2021 | 27 | 26 | 734 | 103* | 29.36 | 118.38 | 1 |
Tamim’s innings of 103 not out came off 63 balls with 10 fours and 5 sixes. He batted at a strike rate of 163.49 and dominated the Oman bowling attack.
The left-hander carried his bat through the innings and helped Bangladesh post a big total. His century remains the highest score by a Bangladeshi batter in T20 World Cup history. Tamim’s knock highlighted his ability to take charge in important matches.
8. Jos Buttler (101*)
Jos Buttler scored an unbeaten 101 against Sri Lanka during the 2021 T20 World Cup at Sharjah. The England wicketkeeper-batter played a stunning knock that showcased his exceptional timing.
| Player | Span | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JC Buttler (ENG) | 2012-2024 | 35 | 34 | 1013 | 101* | 42.20 | 147.23 | 1 |
Buttler’s innings of 101 not out came off 67 balls with 6 fours and 6 sixes. He batted at a strike rate of 150.74 and destroyed the Sri Lankan bowling attack.
The century helped Buttler become the first Englishman to score a century in all three formats of international cricket. He later led England to the 2022 T20 World Cup title. Buttler’s knock against Sri Lanka remains one of the most memorable innings in tournament history.
9. Rilee Rossouw (109)
Rilee Rossouw scored 109 against Bangladesh during the 2022 T20 World Cup at Sydney. The South African left-hander played one of the fastest centuries in tournament history.
| Player | Span | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RR Rossouw (SA) | 2014-2022 | 8 | 7 | 226 | 109 | 37.66 | 164.96 | 1 |
Rossouw’s innings of 109 came off 56 balls with 7 fours and 8 sixes. He batted at a strike rate of 194.64, which ranks among the highest for any T20 World Cup century.
The left-hander reached his century in just 52 deliveries and outscored Bangladesh’s entire innings total of 101. His knock helped South Africa secure a dominant victory at the SCG. Rossouw’s century showcased his brutal hitting power and ability to dominate any attack.
10. Glenn Phillips (104)
Glenn Phillips scored 104 against Sri Lanka during the 2022 T20 World Cup at Sydney. The New Zealand batter played a match-winning knock that saved his team from a difficult position.
| Player | Span | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GD Phillips (NZ) | 2016-2024 | 22 | 19 | 475 | 104 | 27.94 | 149.52 | 1 |
Phillips’ innings of 104 came off 64 balls with 10 fours and 4 sixes. He batted at a strike rate of 162.50 and helped New Zealand chase down a competitive total.
The right-hander walked in when New Zealand needed quick runs and delivered a stunning performance. His century helped secure New Zealand’s place in the semi-finals. Phillips’ knock highlighted his ability to handle pressure situations effectively.
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Conclusion: Chris Gayle Leads With 2 Centuries In T20 World Cup History
The complete list of centuries in T20 World Cup history showcases some outstanding batting performances over the years. Chris Gayle leads the list with 2 centuries and remains an inspiration for power-hitters around the world.
Players like Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina, and Jos Buttler have shown that scoring centuries in T20 cricket requires both skill and temperament. The presence of batters from different nations on this list highlights the global appeal of T20 World Cup cricket. These batters have created unforgettable moments and will be remembered as the tournament continues to grow.
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