Test cricket is back in focus after the excitement of T20 and ODI cricket. The Indian team is also set to play a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka from August 15, 2026. With the series coming up, several Test records are also getting attention.
One such record is the fastest fifty in Test cricket. Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq holds the top spot on this list. Interestingly, only two Indian batters feature in the top 20. Rishabh Pant appears twice, while former India captain Kapil Dev also finds a place on the list.
Who holds the record for the fastest Test fifty?
Misbah-ul-Haq holds the record for the fastest fifty in Test cricket. He reached his half-century in just 21 balls while playing for Pakistan against Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2014.
His record has remained unbeaten even as attacking batting has become a bigger part of modern Test cricket.
Which Indian batter has scored the fastest Test fifty?
Rishabh Pant is the Indian batter with the fastest Test fifty. He has achieved the feat twice in his Test career.
Pant scored a fifty from 28 balls against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru in 2022. He then bettered his own mark by reaching fifty from 29 balls against Australia in Sydney in 2025.
Although Pant’s two entries are in the top 20, he has not been able to break into the top five.
Who is the other Indian in the top 20?
Kapil Dev is the other Indian in the top 20. The former India all-rounder scored a Test fifty in just 30 balls against Pakistan in Karachi in 1982.
Kapil’s attacking style made him one of the most dangerous lower-order batters of his time. His 30-ball fifty still keeps him among the fastest in Test history.
Which players are in the top 20 fastest Test fifties?
The list includes some of the biggest names in Test cricket. David Warner, Jacques Kallis, Ben Stokes, Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle, Ian Botham, Dale Steyn and Viv Richards are among the players who feature.
Here is the complete list of the top 20 fastest Test fifties:
| S. No. | Balls | Player | Match | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | Misbah-ul-Haq | Pakistan vs Australia | Abu Dhabi | 2014 |
| 2 | 23 | David Warner | Australia vs Pakistan | Sydney | 2017 |
| 3 | 24 | Jacques Kallis | South Africa vs Zimbabwe | Cape Town | 2005 |
| 4 | 24 | Ben Stokes | England vs West Indies | Birmingham | 2024 |
| 5 | 25 | Shane Shillingford | West Indies vs New Zealand | Kingston | 2014 |
| 6 | 26 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan vs India | Bengaluru | 2005 |
| 7 | 26 | Mohammad Ashraful | Bangladesh vs India | Mirpur | 2007 |
| 8 | 26 | Dale Steyn | South Africa vs West Indies | Port Elizabeth | 2014 |
| 9 | 27 | Younis Khan | Pakistan vs South Africa | Cape Town | 2003 |
| 10 | 28 | Foffie Williams | West Indies vs England | Bridgetown | 1948 |
| 11 | 28 | Ian Botham | England vs India | Delhi | 1981 |
| 12 | 28 | Chris Gayle | West Indies vs New Zealand | Port of Spain | 2014 |
| 13 | 28 | Colin de Grandhomme | New Zealand vs Sri Lanka | Christchurch | 2018 |
| 14 | 28 | Rishabh Pant | India vs Sri Lanka | Bengaluru | 2022 |
| 15 | 29 | Bruce Yardley | Australia vs West Indies | Bridgetown | 1978 |
| 16 | 29 | Tim Southee | New Zealand vs England | Napier | 2008 |
| 17 | 29 | Rishabh Pant | India vs Australia | Sydney | 2025 |
| 18 | 30 | Kapil Dev | India vs Pakistan | Karachi | 1982 |
| 19 | 30 | Vivian Richards | West Indies vs India | Kingston | 1983 |
| 20 | 30 | Tillakaratne Dilshan | Sri Lanka vs New Zealand | Galle | 2009 |
Why is this record still special?
Test cricket usually gives batters more time to build an innings. However, these players changed the game with their attacking batting. Misbah’s 21-ball fifty remains the fastest, while Pant’s two entries show his ability to score quickly even in the longest format.
For India, Pant and Kapil Dev are the only two names in this top 20 list. With India set to face Sri Lanka in the upcoming Test series, fans will be watching closely to see if any Indian batter can produce another fast fifty.