World Cup 2019: 6 players who can break AB de Villiers’ world record 31-ball hundred

The wait is finally over. We are only hours away from the start of the biggest cricketing event, the ICC World Cup 2019. Ten teams will fight it out over the course of the next six weeks to decide the World Champions.

With the tournament set to happen on batting friendly conditions in England, numerous batting records are set to be rewritten and one such record is AB de Villiers’ fastest ODI hundred.

The Proteas star set the record in 2015 when he demolished the West Indies bowlers to reach the triple-digit score in just 31 deliveries. He finished with 149 off 44 balls, which included 16 sixes. Ever since, no player has even come close to breaking that record, but things could change this summer.

Not many players can dream of breaking AB de Villiers’ insane record, but there are a selected few who can better it.

On that note, let’s take a look at 6 players who can break AB de Villiers’ world record 31-ball hundred.

---

#6 Martin Guptill, New Zealand

New Zealand v Bangladesh - ODI Game 3

The Kiwi opener is one of the most destructive batsmen in the world right now and is capable of scoring runs at a blistering pace. On his day, the 32-year-old can single-handedly win games against any bowling attack in the world.

Less than four years ago, Guptill scored a whirlwind 237* off 163 balls against West Indies in the 2015 World Cup quarterfinals. He recently scored a 35-ball hundred for Worcestershire in the Vitality T20 Blast.

#5 Hardik Pandya, India

New Zealand v India - ODI Game 5

For those who have witnessed the Indian Premier League this season, it should not come as a surprise to see Pandya’s name on the list. The Mumbai Indians all-rounder demolished KKR bowlers on his way to a 34-ball 91 in IPL 2019.

Throughout the tournament, he matched Andre Russell in terms of strike rate. He has played some blistering knocks for India in the past and if he gets in early, he has every chance to go past ABD’s record.

#4 Jos Buttler, England

England v Australia - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Warm Up

Over the past few years, Jos Buttler has transformed into one of the cleanest hitters in world cricket. The England wicket-keeper batsman has scored runs consistently and also at a stunning pace. A couple of weeks ago, Jos Buttler scored a 50-ball hundred against Pakistan at Southampton.

He also scored a 46-ball hundred against Pakistan in 2015 at Dubai. Buttler’s career ODI strike rate is an astonishing 120, which clearly speaks volumes about his hitting abilities.

#3 Chris Gayle, West Indies

West Indies v New Zealand – ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Warm Up

This man is a familiar figure when it comes to the fastest hundreds or towering sixes. Nicknamed ‘Universe Boss’, Chris Gayle is a bowler's nightmare, irrespective of the format. He holds the record for the fastest hundred in T20 cricket when he smacked Pune Warriors bowlers on his way to a 30-ball hundred in IPL 2013.

Gayle scored a 55-ball hundred against England in an ODI game in February. He is in great hitting form at the moment, and at 39, he has nothing to lose.

#2 Glenn Maxwell, Australia

Pakistan v Australia - ODI Series: Game 5

The Australia middle-order batsman is one of the powerful hitters in the world and has played some breathtaking knocks in limited overs cricket. His 51-ball hundred against Sri Lanka during the 2015 World Cup shows how good a batsman he is.

Maxwell can clear boundaries at will and is proficient on both sides of the wicket. His ability to improvise and play innovative strokes makes him a destructive batsman. His ODI strike rate of 122 exemplifies his abilities.

#1 Andre Russell, West Indies

West Indies v New Zealand – ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Warm Up

Russell instils fear in the minds of the bowlers and preys upon it. Arguably the most deadly batsman in the world right now, Russell is unstoppable when he is in full cry. With abilities to hit even the good balls out of the park, Russell uses his upper body strength to decimate the bowlers.

He scored a 42-ball hundred in the 2016 CPL and bettered it with a 40-ball hundred in 2018. He was phenomenal in the recently concluded IPL and also scored a quick-fire fifty in the warm-up game against New Zealand earlier this week.