The Sri Lanka Cricket Board has issued new guidelines with respect to the retirement of Sri Lankan players. As per the latest updates, Sri Lankan players who are intending to quit international cricket will need to give a three months notice period before retiring. Moreover, they have to wait for six-months post-retirement to obtain NOC for playing in franchise-based T20 leagues. The guidelines have been issued by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in its bid to stop the premature retirement of players.

Read Also: Ashes 2021-22: Usman Khawaja goes into the history book with centuries in both the innings

As per the guidelines, the players also need to play at least 80 percent of domestic matches in a season to be eligible to feature in the Lanka Premier League (LPL). SLC's decision came after Danushka Gunathilaka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa announced their retirement.

"National players who intend to retire from national cricket should provide three months' notice to Sri Lanka cricket of their intention to retire."

Sri Lanka Cricket Board said in a statement on Saturday

Also Read: PSL 2022: Cricket South Africa will not provide NOCs to its contracted player to play in PSL

The players are taking retirement because of the new mandatory fitness test by the Sri Lanka Cricket board

"Retired national players who wish to obtain 'No Objection Certificate's (NOCs) to play in overseas franchise leagues. That will only be issued to such players who have completed six months of their effective date of retirement"

"Retired national players will be considered eligible for local leagues such as the LPL, only if they have played 80% of matches in the domestic cricket competitions conducted in the season prior to the conducting of the league."

The Board also added

The guidelines have been issued by SLC as they feel that many players may consider international retirement. The players are taking retirement because of the new mandatory fitness test by the SLC board.

Indian team's star batsman Virat Kohli scored a brilliant half-century in the match against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday. The former captain, who is in great form, became the first Indian to score 100 half-centuries in T20 cricket. 

The Indian stalwart entered the exclusive club, which solely featured David Warner as its sole member. The former Australia star boasts a staggering 108 half-centuries in the T20 format.

Also Read: Most Wickets in 1st Over of IPL

Let's take a look at the batters with most gifties in T20 cricket.

Most Fifties in T20 Cricket

5. Jos Buttler | 86

The England batter Jos Buttler has a fantastic record in the shortest format and has featured in franchise cricket all around the world. Buttler is a part of the Gujarat Titans side in the ongoing IPL season. He has so far played 440 matches in T20 cricket, scoring a total of 12,331 runs with 8 hundreds and the highest individual score of 124.

4. Chris Gayle | 88

The explosive West Indies batter Chris Gayle has played franchise cricket all around the world and has also featured a lot for the national side in the shortest format. Gayle has played 463 matches in T20 cricket, scoring a total of 14,562 runs with 22 centuries and the highest individual score 175*.

3. Babar Azam | 90

The Pakistan batter has not only played a lot of T20 cricket for the national side, but has also featured a lot in franchise cricket. Babar has so far played 311 matches in the format, scoring a total of 11,042 runs with 11 hundreds and the highest individual score of 122.

2. Virat Kohli | 100*

The India star batter Virat Kohli scored his 100th half-century in T20 cricket during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's clash against the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025. Kohli has so far played 405 matches in the format, scoring a total of 13,134 runs with 9 centuries and the highest individual score of 122*.

Also Read: Most Fifties (and over) in IPL History

1. David Warner | 108

The former Australia batter David Warner has played a total of 400 matches in T20 cricket, scoring a massive 12,925 runs. Along with a humongous number of half-centuries, Warner also has 8 centuries under his name in the format with the highest individual score of 135*.

Indian team batsman Abhishek Sharma performed brilliantly in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and scored a century in just 28 balls against Meghalaya. With this, Abhishek has jointly become the second batsman to score the fastest century in the T20 format. in this article, we will discuss the fastest hundreds in T20s.

Also Read: Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Shreyas Gopal gets hat-trick against Baroda; enters list of elites with most T20 hat-tricks

Fastest Hundreds in T20s

1# Sahil Chauhan (2024) | 27 Balls

Sahil Chauhan of Estonia holds the record of fastest hundreds in T20s. Chauhan scored a century against Cyprus in just 27 balls in the year 2024. In this match, Sahil had scored unbeaten 144 runs in 41 balls with the help of 6 fours and 18 sixes. His strike rate was 351.21. Sahil Chauhan had created a world record by playing this historic innings in the second innings.

2# 𝗔𝗯𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗸 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮 (2024) | 28 Balls

Indian Cricket Team batter Abhishek Sharma smashed a 28-ball century featuring for Punjab against Meghalaya. Sharma joined Urvil Patel to hit the joint fastest hundreds in T20s. The southpaw amassed 106 (29), which featured eight fours and eleven sixes. With 11 sixes against Meghalaya, Abhishek also broke Suryakumar Yadav's record for most sixes in a calendar year by an Asian batter in T20s. Sharma has 87 sixes, two more than SKY. 

3# Urvil Patel (2024) | 28 Balls

While playing for Gujarat in Syed Mushtaq Trophy 2024 against Tripura, Urvil Patel has done a wonderful job by scoring a century in 28 balls in T-20. Urvil has become the batsman to score the joined fastest century in T-20 for India. The right-handed batter made an unbeaten 113 off 35 balls with seven fours and 12 sixes.

4# Chris Gayle (2013) | 30 Balls

West Indies batsman Chris Gayle, while playing for the RCB team in 2013, made a record of scoring a century on only 30 balls in the IPL match against Pune Warriors and finished on 175 not out. Gayle also holds the record of hitting fastest century in Indian Premier League. Gayle blasted 17 sixes and 13 fours off just 66 deliveries.

5# Rishabh Pant (2018) | 32 Balls

Indian team's wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant, while playing for Delhi in the Syed Mushtaq Trophy in 2018, scored a century in only 32 balls in the match against Himachal Pradesh. Pant is now the fifth fastest batsman to score fastest hundreds in T20s. He finished with an unbeaten 38-ball 116. Pant made 104 of his runs in boundaries with 12 sixes and eight fours.

Karnataka all-rounder Shreyas Gopal grabbed a stunning hat-trick against Baroda in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to enter a respectable list of legendary players. Playing for Karnataka, the leg-spinning all-rounder dismissed star Baroda cricketers such as Hardik Pandya, and Krunal Pandya for golden ducks. 

Gopal dismissed Shashwat Rawat who scored a scorching 63 off 37 balls to pick up the momentum for the Karnataka team. Following that, Gopal also dismissed star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya on a golden duck. Hardik's brother Krunal Pandya, who is also the captain of Baroda, faced the same fate as he returned to the pavilion with a golden duck by his name. 

Triple Treat 👌👌👌

🔟.1⃣ - Shashwat Rawat
🔟.2⃣- Hardik Pandya
🔟.3⃣ - Krunal Pandya

Re-live Shreyas Gopal's brilliant hat-trick against Baroda in Indore 🎥 🔽

That catch on the hat-trick ball 🔥#SMAT | @IDFCFIRSTBank

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/VizwmvftQI pic.twitter.com/RxSHIVyqy5

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) December 3, 2024

Gopal's sensational hat-trick has undoubtedly excited CSK fans, who are eagerly counting down to see his impact in the upcoming IPL season. CSK secured his services for a base price of 30 lakhs in the recent Mega Auction for IPL 2025. 

However, the 31-year-old all-rounder has entered the globe of cricketing stars after registering his third career T20 hat-trick. He is now positioned third in the list of most hat-tricks in T20 cricket. 

Shreyas Gopal is in the form of his life after being picked by CSK.

2-30(4) vs Ukhand
1-26(4) vs Tri
1-23(4) vs Sau
5-13(4) vs Sik
1-14(4) vs TN
4-19(4) vs Bar (hattrick)

Leading wicket taker:
14 wkts at 8.9, Eco 5.2, SR 10.2

Outrageous numbers in a high scoring SMAT season! pic.twitter.com/YCtBk3uvUm

— Srini Mama (@SriniMaama16) December 3, 2024

Shreyas Gopal recorded his first T20 hat-trick in Karnataka's face-off against Haryana in the 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy when he picked up the three wickets of Navdeep Saini, Jayant Yadav and Amit Mishra. His second came in the same year while playing for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, as he dismissed Virat Kohli, AB De Villiers, and Marcus Stoinis. After almost 5 years, now he has grabbed his third. 

Shreyas Gopal shines with a stunning hat-trick against Baroda, dismissing Shashwat Rawat, Krunal, and Hardik Pandya! 🔥🙌

Recently picked up by CSK for ₹30 lakhs at the IPL Auction 2025, he's ready to make an impact! 💛#ShreyasGopal #CSK #IPL2025 #Cricket #RashidKhan #cricket pic.twitter.com/sP0tiG5vrZ

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) December 4, 2024

Most hat-tricks in T20 Cricket

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the Indian pacer who last played for the Indian team in 2022, recently became the first Indian pacer to take more than 300 T20 wickets during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Tournament 2024. Captaining the Uttar Pradesh team, the medium pacer showcased even at his age, how he can be good with the ball in hand. In the UP vs Himachal Pradesh match, he claimed his 300 T20 wicket. 

Indian bowlers with most T20 wickets

As Bhuvneshwar Kumar became the first Indian pacer to achieve feat, we will give the list of Indian bowlers with most T20 wickets. 

4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 304 T20 wickets

The 35-year-old medium pacer has been one of the highest wicket-takers for India in T20I cricket. In T20 internationals for India, Bhuvnewshwar Kumar has taken 90 wickets in 87 T20I matches at an outstanding economy rate of 6.96, including two five-wicket hauls. 

In Indian Premier League, while playing for Pune Warriors and Sunrisers Hyderabad, Buvi has taken 181 wickets in 176 matches at an excellent economy rate of 7.56 runs per over. In total, Bhuvneshwar so far has taken 304 wickets in T20 cricket in 290 matches at 7.29 runs per over.

Read Also | Is this the end of the road for Bhuvneshwar Kumar? UP ignores the pacer for the Ranji Trophy 2024-25

He stands as the fourth highest wicket-taker among Indians in T20 cricket and is the only Indian fast bowler to take more than 300 wickets in shortest format of the game.

3. Ravichandran Ashwin | 310 T20 Wickets

A test legend in his own rights, Ravichandran Ashwin had started his career with the T20s. It was Chennai Super Kings who had found the spark in him which helped him gain the exposure to evantually get selected for India and flourish as an all-format bowler. The off-spinner from Tamil Nadu has played 324 T20 games so far in his career and took 324 wickets at an astonishing economoy rate of 7.06. 

In IPL, he has played for teams like CSK, Kings XI Punjab, Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiants and Delhi Capitals along with playing for the Indian team and Tamil Nadu in his career. In his 212 IPL games, he has taken 180 wickets at 7.12 runs per over. For India, in T20Is, Ashwin has the off-spinner took 72 wickets in only 65 games. 

2. Piyush Chawla | 319 T20 Wickets

The leg spinner has been playing T20s since 2007 and has played a total 297 T20 matches so far in his career. In his career, he has taken 319 T20 wickets with an economy rate of 7.53. However, he only played 7 T20 internationals for India and took only 4 wickets for the country.

In the Indian Premier League, he has featured in 192 games for Chennai Super Kings, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians. Chawla has been one of the most successful bowlers in the tournament with 192 wickets with an economy rate of 7.96 runs per over.

Moreover, he has played for overseas teams like Sussex in Vitality Blast Tournament in England. 

1. Yuzvendra Chahal | 363 T20 Wickets

Yuzvendra Chahal is perhaps the most Indian successful bowlers in the shortest format of the game. The leg-spinner from Haryana started his career with IPL teams like Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore and made a name for yourself to get into the Indian team.

Chahal spent eight seasons with Royal Challengers Bangalore and with 113 wickets, is still their highest wicket-taker in Indian Premier League history. However, RCB decided not to retain him in the 2022 mega auction, and Chahal headed to Rajasthan Royals. 

In IPL 2025 Mega acution, he became the most expensive spinner in the tournament's history as Punjab Kings bought him for INR 18 cr. Till now, in IPL, Chahal has taken 205 wickets, and is the most successful bowler in the tournament's history. For India, he has played 80 T20I games and once was the highest wicket-taker for India in T20Is with 96 wickets.

Last night, Hardik Pandya finished off in style. He smashed a short ball from Taskin Ahmed over the mid-wicket to win the game with 49 balls to go and 7 wickets in hand. He overtook Virat Kohli's record of winning matches by hitting a six.

Earlier, Virat Kohli similarly ended the matches, four times, in T-20 cricket. With Hardik hitting the six last night, his count rose to 5.

Swagger Pandya

The all-rounder stood at 39, not out after 16 balls. His inning included five fours and two sixes, with a strike rate of 243.75.

His no-look ramp shot over the wicketkeeper’s head defined his aura and calmness on the field. The 128-run target didn't look as appealing as his confidence during the shot.

𝘿𝙊 𝙉𝙊𝙏 𝙈𝙄𝙎𝙎!

The shot. The reaction. The result ➡️ EPIC 😎

WATCH 🎥🔽 #TeamIndia | #INDvBAN | @hardikpandya7 | @IDFCFIRSTBank https://t.co/mvJvIuqm2B

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 6, 2024

Pandya had a good run with the ball too. He took one wicket, giving 26 runs in four overs, with a decent economy of 6.50.

Bowling records

There was a time when "instructions" came for him to bowl regularly. The medium-pacer version of Hardik Pandya is now the fourth-leading wicket-taker in T20I cricket. He has 87 wickets, overtaking Arshdeep Singh. The later has 86 wickets to his name.

Yuzvendra Chahal, however, tops the list with 96 wickets in T-20 Internationals.