List of Centuries in T20 World Cup 2026: Pathum Nissanka, Yuvraj Samra Make Headlines

List of Centuries in T20 World Cup 2026: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has witnessed a surge in batting dominance, with two historic centuries recorded within 24 hours. Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka and Canada’s teenage sensation Yuvraj Samra have become the first players to cross the three-figure mark in this edition, achieving the feat under immense pressure in their respective group fixtures. New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Canada National Cricket Team Scorecard, T20 World Cup 2026.

Prior to these knocks, the highest individual score in the 2026 tournament was held by New Zealand's Tim Seifert (89*). The arrival of two centuries in quick succession marks a significant shift in the tournament's momentum as teams battle for Super 8 qualification.

Pathum Nissanka: The First Centurion

On Monday, 16 February, Pathum Nissanka became the first player to score a century in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Playing against Australia at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Nissanka hammered an unbeaten 100 off just 52 balls.

Chasing a target of 182, Nissanka’s innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, featuring 10 fours and five sixes. Not only did this knock secure an eight-wicket victory and Super 8 qualification for Sri Lanka, but it also made Nissanka the first Sri Lankan since Mahela Jayawardene (2010) to score a T20 World Cup hundred. Notably, it was the first-ever century scored against Australia in the history of the tournament.

Yuvraj Samra: Canada’s Record-Breaker

Less than a day later, in Chennai, Canada’s Yuvraj Samra produced arguably the most surprising performance of the tournament so far. Facing a formidable New Zealand bowling attack at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, the 19-year-old opener struck a historic century to lead Canada to a competitive total.

Samra’s ton was a blend of youthful exuberance and tactical precision. In doing so, he achieved several milestones:

• First for Canada: He became the first Canadian player to score a century in any T20 World Cup.

• Youngest Centurion: At 19 years and 141 days, he became the youngest player to record a 100-plus score in T20 World Cup history.

• Dominating the Kiwis: His century included a 116-run opening stand with captain Dilpreet Bajwa, rattling the New Zealand pace battery.

List of Centuries in T20 World Cup 2026

T20 WC 2026 Tournament Batting Trends

The 2026 edition has seen higher totals than the previous tournament in 2024, partly due to the batting-friendly tracks at venues like Pallekele and the Wankhede Stadium. While bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Rashid Khan have maintained discipline, the "powerplay" approach has evolved, with openers taking more risks to exploit the field restrictions.

As the tournament moves into the Super 8 stage starting 21 February, all eyes will be on whether the likes of Suryakumar Yadav or Harry Brook can join Nissanka and Samra on this elite list.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 17, 2026 12:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).