In the IPL, batters have enjoyed the privilege of breaking records for their teams. IPL is the paradise of batsmen is a season to showcase destructive batting skills. Many players have entertained the fans and have orchestrated victories for the team with centuries they scored. The skills of a batter that makes him score a century help to maximize the winning chances of a team. Smashing a hundred faster escalates the probability of making the team win even more, and the fewer balls they take, the faster the team scores.
There have been 75 individual centuries scored in the history of the Indian Premier League. Eight came in the last season (2022 ) – the most in a single IPL season. The trend is clear. Batting has evolved into a 360 boundary-scoring run-fest, and the T20 game has become more and more geared towards batters. And yet, only one of the centuries on this list has been scored in the last three years. When Virat Kohli scored four centuries in IPL 2016, no one would have expected that feat to be repeated. And yet it did when Jos Butler scored four centuries last season in 2022. The quicker the centuries are achieved, the better it is for the team.
The fastest century in the league’s history was achieved in 30 balls, and the slowest in 67. Legends like Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers have revolutionized how the game is played and made an impact of scoring the fastest century in IPL. Notably, as the sixteenth edition of the cash-rich league begins on Friday, March 31, 2023, with a clash between defending champions Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad, today’s article will look at five of the fastest IPL centuries.
Top 5 Fastest Centuries
1: RCB v Pune Warriors, IPL 2013: Chris Gayle 175 off 66 balls
Chris Gayle’s big-hitting abilities made him a prize wicket for any team. The West Indian will be remembered for one of the finest and most explosive knocks in the history of the IPL against the now-defunct Pune Warriors. Gayle scored the fastest century in T20 cricket off 30 balls at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. After batting 66 balls, he scored 175 runs. During this inning, Gayle hit the most sixes in a T20 inning (17), enabling RCB to register the highest score by a team of 263 runs.
2: Yusuf Pathan scores 100 off 37 balls against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2010
It was the second match of the IPL 2010 season. A century by Yusuf Pathan against Mumbai Indians set the tone for the remainder of the tournament. With a stunning onslaught, Pathan nearly won for the 2008 champions as they chased 213 runs. It took him just 37 balls to reach the three-figure mark, making it the fastest ton in five years until Chris Gayle achieved the feat. Despite that century, the Royals did not succeed in defeating MI as a result of his dismissal.
3: Against Royal Challengers Bangalore, David Miller scored 101 off 38 balls
With his crazy hitting, David Miller stunned RCB and helped Kings XI Punjab to a sensational victory. To enter the IPL record books, Miller hit a century in 38 balls. Miller batted with Kings XI Punjab reeling at 64-4 and chasing 191 for victory. In helping his team to win, Miller hit seven sixes and eight boundaries.
4: In 2008, Adam Gilchrist scored 109 off 42 balls for Deccan Chargers against Mumbai Indians.
Adam was one of the most devastating wicketkeepers and batsmen in cricket history. During a league stage match of IPL 2008, Mumbai Indians witnessed him tear apart the opposing bowling attack right from the ball. The star-studded MI team could not score more than 154 runs at DY Patil stadium while batting first.
5: AB de Villiers and David Warner
South African AB de Villiers and Australian David Warner have the fastest centuries in the IPL’s history. It took both players 43 balls to reach three figures. In 2016, AB de Villiers scored 129 off 52 balls against the Gujarat Lions at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Gujarat was trounced by RCB. For Sunrisers Hyderabad against Kolkata Knight Riders, Warner scored 126 runs off 59 balls.
