Sahil Chauhan, representing Estonia, set a new benchmark in T20 International cricket by scoring a blistering century off just 27 balls in a match against Cyprus. This remarkable feat not only surpassed Jan-Nicol Loftie Eaton's previous record for the fastest T20I century—achieved in 33 balls—but also eclipsed Chris Gayle's 30-ball century in the 2013 IPL as the fastest century across all T20 matches. Chauhan also established a new record for the most sixes in a men's T20I innings, launching 18 sixes in his 41-ball knock.
The bilateral series between Estonia and Cyprus kicked off on Monday in Episkopi with two matches scheduled for the day. While Estonia emerged victorious in both encounters, Chauhan's performances were a tale of extremes. In the first game, the 32-year-old batsman was dismissed for a first-ball duck. Despite this early setback, Estonia successfully chased down Cyprus' total of 195 for 7 in the final over.
Chauhan dramatically turned the tide in the second match, where Cyprus set a target of 191 for 7. Estonia's innings began poorly, losing both openers within the first eight balls and managing only nine runs. However, Chauhan quickly shifted gears, smashing a six, a four, and another six off Buddika Mahesh's first three legitimate deliveries he faced. By the seventh over, Estonia was struggling at 89 for 4, but Chauhan had already amassed 66 runs off just 17 balls, featuring five fours and three sixes.
The real fireworks began in the sixth over of the chase when Chauhan took Mangala Gunasekara apart, hitting him for four sixes and a four, reaching a rapid 14-ball half-century. Although this was not the fastest T20I fifty—a record held by Dipendra Singh Airee at nine balls—Chauhan's blitz was still extraordinary, placing him among the fastest in T20I history, alongside Yuvraj Singh's famous 12-ball half-century against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup.
Continuing his assault, Chauhan hammered four more sixes off Chamal Sadun in the eighth over and then three off Neeraj Tiwari in the next, with the last six bringing up his century. Chauhan didn't stop there; he finished the chase in style, striking a four off James Chialoufas on the final ball of the 13th over, ending his innings with an astonishing strike rate of 351.21. Bilal Masud, Chauhan’s partner for the fifth wicket, was the second-highest scorer for Estonia with an unbeaten 21 runs.
In comparison, the fastest century in women’s T20Is is held by Deandra Dottin of the West Indies, who achieved the milestone in 38 balls against South Africa in 2010.