Jos Buttler smashes fastest T20I century as England crush India 257/3

Jos Buttler lit up Southampton on 11 July with a brutal 131 off 56 balls to power England to 257/3, the highest T20I total ever against India. His assault, paired with Harry Brook’s 95, handed England a 4-0 series thrashing and vaulted them to the top of the ICC T20I rankings.

England won the toss and chose to bat first at the Ageas Bowl. Buttler and Brook put on a 150-run stand in 10 overs, with the skipper smashing sixes off Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh before reaching his fastest T20I fifty in 20 balls. Brook, dropped early by Shivam Dube, responded with a 42-ball 95. Axar Patel copped a 25-run over from Buttler, who then brought up his century with a six off the same bowler.

India’s bowlers never recovered. Prince Yadav conceded 21 runs in his final over, while Suryansh Shedge was hammered for 24 in two overs. England finished on 257/3, a record against India in T20Is. Shreyas Iyer’s side, already winless under his captaincy, watched their World Cup crown slip away.

Buttler’s 131 is his highest T20I score and the fastest century by an England batter in the format. It also marked his 10th T20I hundred, extending his own record for the most by any England player. The win secured England’s first 4-0 whitewash of India in any format and catapulted them to the No.1 ICC T20I ranking, ending India’s 29-month reign.

The innings underlined Buttler’s dominance in the shortest format. His 15 sixes in the match set a new England record for a single T20I, while his strike rate of 233.92 was brutal even by his standards. The performance also silenced critics who questioned his form after England’s early exit at the 2024 T20 World Cup.

England’s next assignment is the 2026 T20 World Cup in India, where they’ll start as favorites. Buttler’s side will look to build on this momentum, while India must address their T20I leadership crisis. Shreyas Iyer remains winless as skipper, with the board yet to name a permanent replacement.

For Buttler, the focus shifts to the 2026 Ashes in Australia. His red-ball form has dipped, but his white-ball exploits-especially this series-prove he’s still England’s X-factor. Brook’s 95 showed England’s bench strength, but Buttler’s presence remains the difference-maker.

- England’s 257/3 is their highest T20I total vs India (previous best: 230/8 in 2022).

- Buttler’s 131 is his highest T20I score and the fastest century by an England batter (20 balls).

- Brook’s 95 is his second-highest T20I score, behind only his 97 vs Pakistan in 2022.

- India’s 148 all out is their lowest chase vs England in T20Is.