A century being scored in the shorter format of cricket is an feat of sheer talent endurance, endurance and power. Yet, doing it on the biggest stage ever–the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is an extraordinary feat that only a small group of cricketers who are elite can claim. Since the tournament’s beginning 2007 in which thousands of players have participated however it’s been incredibly difficult to find players who have played hundreds of times of players participating in the T20 World Cup remains extremely small.
In 2026, the timeline of the T20 World Cup has seen just 14 centuries recorded through 13 distinct players. From Chris Gayle’s spectacular debut ton, to the most recent triumphs in 2026 they represent the highest point of T20 batsmen. In this complete guide, we dive into the numbers along with the records and the tales behind each hundred that was scored during the history of the tournament.
The Elite List of T20 World Cup Centurions
The long journey of centuries that has taken place of this tournament started with an explosion in 2007 and has experienced an impressive increase during the past few years. While the 2024 edition did not have a single participant making it to triple figures, the 2026 event (jointly co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka) has already come up with a series of masterclasses that have high scoring.
Full List of Centuries (2007-2026)
The following table gives the complete list of each player who reached a hundred at the T20 World Cup, including their score, their opponent as well as the year.
| No. | Player | Team | Score | Balls | Opposition | Venue | Year |
| 1 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 117 | 57 | South Africa | Johannesburg | 2007 |
| 2 | Suresh Raina | India | 101 | 60 | South Africa | Gros Islet | 2010 |
| 3 | Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 100 | 64 | Zimbabwe | Providence | 2010 |
| 4 | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 123 | 58 | Bangladesh | Kandy | 2012 |
| 5 | Alex Hales | England | 116* | 64 | Sri Lanka | Chattogram | 2014 |
| 6 | Ahmed Shehzad | Pakistan | 111* | 62 | Bangladesh | Dhaka | 2014 |
| 7 | Tamim Iqbal | Bangladesh | 103* | 63 | Oman | Dharamshala | 2016 |
| 8 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 100* | 48 | England | Mumbai | 2016 |
| 9 | Jos Buttler | England | 101* | 67 | Sri Lanka | Sharjah | 2021 |
| 10 | Rilee Rossouw | South Africa | 109 | 56 | Bangladesh | Sydney | 2022 |
| 11 | Glenn Phillips | New Zealand | 104 | 64 | Sri Lanka | Sydney | 2022 |
| 12 | Pathum Nissanka | Sri Lanka | 100* | 52 | Australia | Kandy | 2026 |
| 13 | Yuvraj Samra | Canada | 110 | 65 | New Zealand | Chennai | 2026 |
| 14 | Sahibzada Farhan | Pakistan | 100* | 58 | Namibia | Colombo | 2026 |
Analysis of Top Performances
1. Chris Gayle: The Only Man with Two Hundreds
When talking about players who have hundreds of points of players participating in the T20 World Cup, the discussion must start by introducing “The Universe Boss,” Chris Gayle. The only person in history to win the tournament to have scored two centuries. His first century (117) was scored in the first game during the championship in 2007, which set the foundation to begin his participation in the T20 revolution. Amazingly the second century (100*, in the year 2016) is still one of the most fast ever recorded in T20 World Cup history, being able to complete the feat with only 47 ball.
2. Brendon McCullum: The Highest Individual Score
The New Zealander Brendon McCullum is the most famous for having the most impressive individual score at the event’s time. McCullum’s 123 in the 2012 World Cup score against Bangladesh at the 2012 World Cup was an act of sheer aggression. It included seven sixes and 11 fours. Over the last decade nobody has managed to beat this record-breaking total.
3. The Class of 2026: A New Generation
In 2026, the T20 World Cup has been described as a “batter’s paradise.” 3 players already signed up to the club’s elite:
- Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka): Scored a spectacular 100* in a game against Australia.
- Yuvraj Samra (Canada): Scripted his place in history as the youngest centurion of the tournament at the age of 19 by scoring 110 in the match against New Zealand.
- Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan): Anchored a vital win by scoring 100points in the match against Namibia.
Leading Teams by Number of Centuries
Which countries have produced the largest number of players who have dozens of hundreds at the T20 World Cup? Although the West Indies and England have had a dominant record but the 2026 World Cup has helped boost the standings of Pakistan as well as Sri Lanka.
| Country | Number of Centuries | Players |
| West Indies | 2 | Chris Gayle (2) |
| England | 2 | Alex Hales, Jos Buttler |
| New Zealand | 2 | Brendon McCullum, Glenn Phillips |
| Sri Lanka | 2 | Mahela Jayawardene, Pathum Nissanka |
| Pakistan | 2 | Ahmed Shehzad, Sahibzada Farhan |
| South Africa | 1 | Rilee Rossouw |
| India | 1 | Suresh Raina |
| Bangladesh | 1 | Tamim Iqbal |
| Canada | 1 | Yuvraj Samra |
Key Stats: Fastest and Slowest Centuries
In T20 cricket it is all about speed. But some hundred are based on caution and others are pure chaos.
Fastest T20 World Cup Hundreds
- Chris Gayle (2016): 47 balls vs England
- Chris Gayle (2007): 50 balls vs South Africa
- Brendon McCullum (2012): 51 balls against Bangladesh
- Pathum The Nissanka (2026): 52 balls against Australia
Slowest T20 World Cup Hundreds
- Jos Buttler (2021): 67 balls vs Sri Lanka
- Yuvraj Samra (2026): 65 balls against New Zealand
- Mahela Jayawardene (2010): 64 balls vs Zimbabwe
Why are Centuries Rare in the T20 World Cup?
You may be wondering what the reason is, after nearly twenty years there is only little players who have hundreds of participants at this year’s T20 World Cup. Three main reasons:
- High-Pressure Environments Contrary to bilateral series World Cup matches carry immense importance. Batters tend to take fewer risks when they are in the 70s or 80s in order to make sure their team is able to reach the level of competitiveness.
- quality of bowling World Cups feature the top bowling attack anywhere in the world. The challenge of defending a batter who is bound for 100 becomes the top goal for captains, who frequently make use of their best “death bowlers” to stifle the scoring.
- limited delivery: A 120-ball innings player usually has to play at least 50-60 balls to achieve 100. If openers do not stay in, it’s extremely difficult for middle-order batters to make it to the century mark.
Conclusion
This number of players who have played hundreds of times of them participating in the T20 World Cup is the “Who’s Who” of cricketing legends. From the original Chris Gayle to the young sensation Yuvraj Samra These 13 players have brought fans some unforgettable moments in the history of sport. As the 2026 edition goes on we might have more names added to this elite list and further cementing that T20 World Cup as the best stage to showcase your batting.
Suggested Read
- Zimbabwe vs West Indies Match Prediction
- Pakistan vs England Match Prediction
- T20 World Cup 2026 Points Table Super 8
FAQ
Who has the most hundreds of players in T20 World Cup history?
Chris Gayle (West Indies) holds the record for the longest hundreds of people, having a record of two century records (2007 in 2007 and again in 2016).
Has an Indian player made it to an era-defining century at the T20 World Cup?
Indeed, Suresh Raina is the only Indian player to accomplish this feat. He scored 101 goals against South Africa in 2010.
Who is the smallest player to reach a century at the T20 World Cup?
Yuvraj Samra from Canada was the youngest athlete to reach a century in the 2026 tournament, achieving the feat at 19.
Which athlete has the highest score during the tournament?
Brendon McCullum has the most runs for most runs with his 123-run run against Bangladesh in 2012.
What was the score of centuries during 2024’s T20 World Cup?
Incredibly, there were zero centuries recorded in the 2024 T20 World Cup, making it one of the few occasions with low scoring for individual milestones.