The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League is all set to commence on 22nd March 2024, with a thrilling clash between defending champions Chennai Super Kings and the star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai.

Tournaments like the Indian Premier League (IPL) are meant to break records, and that’s why some batters can completely change the game in very little time, leaving no chance for the opposition to recover from the assault. When any batter hits a century in a T20 inning, it significantly enhances the chances of their team winning. Particularly if this century is scored at a blazing pace, the probability of victory increases even more due to a considerable shift in momentum. In this blog, we will cover top 5 fastest centuries of IPL history.

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Chris Gayle’s 30 ball century

Chris Gayle, known for his explosive batting prowess, holds the record for smashing the fastest century in the IPL. In IPL 2013 against the Pune Warriors, Gayle played a blistering knock of 175 runs off just 66 balls. This memorable inning included 13 fours and a staggering 17 huge sixes. Gayle reached the three-figure mark in a mere 30 balls, propelling Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to a colossal total of 263/5 in 20 overs. Pune Warriors could only manage a paltry 133/9 in response, losing the match by a whopping 130 runs.

Yusuf Pathan’s 37 ball century

Yusuf Pathan stands at the top spot among Indian players for the fastest century in IPL history. He smashed a century in only 37 balls against the Mumbai Indians in 2010, setting a record at that time. Chasing a daunting target of 213 runs, the Rajasthan Royals were well in the game until Yusuf got a run-out on the first ball of the 18th over. Despite his heroic effort, Rajasthan fell short by just 4 runs, scoring 208/7 in their 20 overs.

David Miller’s 38 ball century

David Miller showcased his batting prowess with a century in just 38 balls during his memorable 101-run knock against RCB in the IPL 2013. RCB had set a target of 191 runs, seemingly putting Punjab in a winning position, as they managed only 64/4 in 9.5 overs. However, Miller’s blitzkrieg turned the tables as Punjab chased down the challenging total in just 18 overs with six wickets to spare.

Adam Gilchrist’s 42 ball century

Adam Gilchrist’s 42-ball century in the inaugural season of the IPL remains etched in memory. Playing for the Deccan Chargers, Gilchrist chased down 155 runs in just 12 overs against the Mumbai Indians, leading his team to a comfortable 10-wicket victory.

AB de Villiers and David Warner’s 43 ball century

AB de Villiers and David Warner share the joint-fifth spot for their centuries in only 43 balls. De Villiers smashed 129 runs off 52 balls against the Gujarat Lions in IPL 2016, while Warner’s 126 runs off 59 balls against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2017.