The record for the fastest half-century in T20 World Cup history still belongs to the legendary Yuvraj Singh. He smashed a historic 12-ball fifty against the England cricket team in the very first edition of the tournament in 2007.
Next on the list are two stunning 17-ball fifties from Stephan Myburgh of the Netherlands and Marcus Stoinis of Australia. Close behind them are Glenn Maxwell and KL Rahul, who both reached their fifties in 18 balls.
India has three players in the top 10: Yuvraj Singh, KL Rahul, and Rohit Sharma, while Australia features twice with Maxwell and Stoinis.
Keep reading as we take a closer look at each of these explosive innings, ball by ball and moment by moment.
Fastest Fifty In The T20 World Cup From 2007 to 2026
Here is the list of the top 10 fastest half-centuries in the T20 World Cup history.
| Rank | Player | Balls | Match | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuvraj Singh | 12 | India v England | 19/09/2007 |
| 2 | Johann Myburgh | 17 | Netherlands v Ireland | 21/03/2014 |
| 3 | Marcus Stoinis | 17 | Australia v Sri Lanka | 25/10/2022 |
| 4 | Glenn Maxwell | 18 | Australia v Pakistan | 23/03/2014 |
| 5 | KL Rahul | 18 | India v Scotland | 05/11/2021 |
| 6 | Shoaib Malik | 18 | Pakistan v Scotland | 07/11/2021 |
| 7 | Rohit Sharma | 19 | India v Australia | 24/06/2024 |
| 8 | Dasun Shanaka | 19 | Sri Lanka v Oman | 12/02/2026 |
| 9 | Aiden Markram | 19 | South Africa v New Zealand | 14/02/2026 |
| 10 | Shimron Hetmyer | 19 | West Indies v Zimbabwe | 23/02/2026 |
1. Yuvraj Singh: 12 balls against England
On September 19, 2007, at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban, Yuvraj Singh played one of the most memorable innings in T20 World Cup history.
Batting at No. 5 in India’s group match against the England cricket team, Yuvraj Singh scored the fastest half-century of T20I history in just 12 balls. He came in 17th over when India was in a strong position with 3/155, but everything changed in the 19th over.
Yuvraj had a heated conversation with Flintoff, which made him furious, and he went berserk against young bowler Stuart Broad and hit six sixes in six balls.
India finished with 218/4 and won the match by 18 runs. Yuvraj was named Player of the Match. England were knocked out, and India later won the first-ever T20 World Cup.
2. Stephen Myburgh: 17 balls against Ireland
On March 21, 2014, in Sylhet, Bangladesh, the Netherlands faced a near-impossible task against Ireland cricket team. They had to chase 190 in less than 14.2 overs to move ahead of Zimbabwe and qualify for the Super 10s.
Stephan Myburgh rose to the occasion, and he smashed 63 runs off just 23 balls, reaching his half-century in only 17 deliveries. He hit four fours and seven sixes in a breathtaking innings. He was well supported by Wesley’s 40 off 22 and Tom Cooper’s 45 off 15 balls.
Thanks to his explosive start, the Netherlands chased down the target in just 13.5 overs, winning by six wickets. Myburgh was named Player of the Match and was later included in the ICC Team of the Tournament.
3. Marcus Stoinis: 17 balls against Sri Lanka
Marcus Stoinis takes the third spot for the fastest fifty in T20 World Cup history. On October 25, 2022, at Perth Stadium, Sri Lanka batted first and posted 157/6, setting Australia a target of 158. After a heavy loss to New Zealand in their opening match, Australia needed a strong comeback.
Chasing 158, the Australian national cricket team was 89/3 when Stoinis walked in. He changed the game completely. Stoinis smashed a 17-ball fifty, the 2nd fastest T20I half-century by an Australian, and remained unbeaten on 59 off 18 balls, hitting four fours and six sixes.
Australia chased the target with 21 balls left, winning by seven wickets. Stoinis was named Player of the Match.
4. Glenn Maxwell: 18 balls against Pakistan
Glenn Maxwell produced one of the best fighting knocks in T20 World Cup history on March 23, 2014, in Mirpur, Bangladesh.
Batting first, Pakistan put up a big total of 191/5, setting Australia a tough target of 192 in the Super 10 match with Umar Akmal’s 94 off 54 balls.
In reply, Australia were at 2/8 when Maxwell came to the crease. He played a fearless innings. He smashed a 50 off just 18 balls and went on to score 74 from 33 deliveries, hitting seven fours and six sixes. His powerful hitting almost pulled off a stunning chase.
However, Australia fell short by 16 runs as no other middle and lower middle order batter could cross a double-digit score.
5. KL Rahul: 18 balls against Scotland
KL Rahul delivered a dominant performance when India desperately needed a big win in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Having lost two of their first three matches, including a heavy defeat to Pakistan, India had to improve their net run rate to stay in the semifinal race.
Batting first, the Scotland national cricket team managed just 85 runs in Sharjah. In reply, Rahul came out attacking from the very first ball. He smashed a half-century in only 18 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes.
India chased down the target in just 6.3 overs in a ruthless and clinical effort. Rahul’s knock gave India a massive NRR boost and kept their semifinal hopes alive. It remains the second-fastest T20 World Cup fifty by an Indian batter.
6. Shoaib Malik: 18 balls against Scotland
Shoaib Malik is in 6th position in this list. On November 7, 2021, in Sharjah, Pakistan faced the Scotland team with strong intent. Pakistan was going well, scoring 112 runs in the 15th over, but Malik’s introduction after the fall of the third wicket completely changed the momentum of the game.
He smashed one four and six huge sixes, racing to his half-century in just 18 balls. He scored 54 runs in just 18 balls with the help of 6 monstrous sixes. His fearless hitting dismantled the Scottish bowling attack, powering Pakistan to a dominant victory.
7. Rohit Sharma: 19 balls against Australia
It was Rohit Sharma’s revenge for the 2023 ODI World Cup final heartbreak. On June 24, 2024, in Gros Islet, St Lucia, he delivered one of the finest knocks of his T20 career.
After Virat Kohli fell for 0 early in the power play, Rohit took full control. He smashed 92 off just 41 balls, hitting 7 fours and 8 sixes at a stunning strike rate of 224.39. He reached his fifty in only 19 balls, the fastest of his T20 career and the quickest in the 2024 T20 World Cup. In one over against Mitchell Starc, he hammered 29 runs, shifting the momentum completely.
India posted 205, and Australia national cricket team fell short by 24 runs. The victory sealed India’s semifinal spot, and they eventually went on to lift the trophy.
8. Dasun Shanaka: 19 balls against Oman
With the Sri Lanka national cricket team looking to dominate at home in Pallekele on February 12, 2026, the stage was perfectly set. After a steady start that took them to 129 in 14 overs, the innings needed a powerful finish to put the opposition under pressure.
That’s when captain Dasun Shanaka stepped in and changed the game completely. Despite coming into the match with low scores of 1, 4, and 0, Shanaka answered his critics in style. He smashed Sri Lanka’s fastest-ever T20I fifty in just 19 balls, hitting 5 sixes and 2 fours in a brutal display of power.
Sri Lanka piled up 225/5, the highest total of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Later, Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera helped restrict Oman to 120, sealing a dominant 105-run victory.
9. Aiden Markram: 19 balls against New Zealand
In a crucial Group D clash on February 14, 2026, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, New Zealand posted 175, setting South Africa a target of 176.
Chasing the total, captain Aiden Markram played a stunning innings. He attacked early in the power play, hitting three sixes and several boundaries. Markram reached his half-century in just 19 balls, the fastest ever by a South African in T20 World Cup history.
He remained unbeaten on 86 off 44 balls, his best T20I score, guiding South Africa to a seven-wicket win with 17 balls left.
10. Shimron Hetmyer: 19 balls against Zimbabwe
In the Super 8 stage on February 23, 2026, at Wankhede Stadium, Shimron Hetmyer delivered one of the finest knocks of the tournament.
Batting at No. 3 after two early wickets, Hetmyer attacked from the start. He smashed four fours and five sixes to reach his fifty in just 19 balls.
Despite being dropped twice by Tashinga Musekiwa, he made Zimbabwe pay. Hetmyer finished with a powerful 85 off 34 balls.
West Indies piled up 254/6, the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history, and then bowled out Zimbabwe for 147, sealing a huge 107-run win. Hetmyer was named Player of the Match in a performance that sent a strong message to the rest of the teams.
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Conclusion: Yuvraj Singh Scored Fastest Half-Century In The T20 World Cup
The fastest half-centuries in T20 World Cup history belong to Yuvraj Singh’s unforgettable 12-ball fifty in 2007.
India and Australia have several names on this elite list, showing their strong batting talent across different generations.
As the T20 World Cup continues to grow, new records will surely be set. The next fastest fifty could come at any moment. Stay tuned.
