The ongoing Test match between India and England in Birmingham has been a thrilling affair, filled with remarkable milestones.

One standout moment came from England’s Jamie Smith, who scored a blistering century off just 80 balls, becoming the fourth-fastest centurion for England in Test history. This explosive knock reignited discussions around the fastest centuries ever scored in Test cricket.

Amid this buzz, a common question among fans has resurfaced—who holds the record for the fastest Test century by an Indian? Let's delve into the stats and discover the legends who've lit up the format with sheer pace and power.

Fastest Test Century by an Indian 

The record for the fastest Test hundred by an Indian belongs to none other than Mohammad Azharuddin, one of India’s most stylish and attacking batsmen of the 90s.

During a Test match against South Africa in the 1996-97 series, Azharuddin reached his century in just 74 balls—a record that still stands unbeaten among Indian players.

At a time when such aggressive batting was rare in Tests, Azhar's knock was both bold and brilliant. It showcased how skillful timing and fearless strokeplay could change the course of a match within a single session.

Mohammad Azharuddin – 100 in 74 balls vs South Africa, 1996-97

Virender Sehwag – 100 in 78 balls vs West Indies, 2006

Shikhar Dhawan – 100 in 85 balls vs Australia, 2012-13

Kapil Dev – 100 in 86 balls vs England, 1981-82

Hardik Pandya – 100 in 86 balls vs Sri Lanka, 2017

Each of these knocks came at a crucial moment and displayed not just aggression but exceptional cricketing intelligence.

Fastest Test Century in World Cricket

On the global front, the record for the fastest century in Test cricket is held by Brendon McCullum of New Zealand. In his farewell Test match against Australia in 2015-16, McCullum unleashed a brutal counterattack, reaching his century in just 54 deliveries. This remains the quickest Test century in the 148-year history of the format.

Brendon McCullum – 100 in 54 balls vs Australia, 2015-16

Viv Richards – 100 in 56 balls vs England, 1985-86

Misbah-ul-Haq – 100 in 56 balls vs Australia, 2014-15

Adam Gilchrist – 100 in 57 balls vs England, 2006-07

Jack Gregory – 100 in 67 balls vs South Africa, 1921-22