The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the most celebrated and organized cricket tournament in the world. One of the best parts of the IPL is seeing players break records. Fans eagerly await the fastest century in IPL history.
A century in cricket is a big deal. In the high-pressure IPL, scoring one quickly can really change the game. Many cricket players stand out for scoring centuries in their careers. However, the records favour those who scored their centuries quickly. In this section, we’ll look at the fastest century scored by a player in the IPL. We’ll also discuss the person who helped achieve this record.
Fastest Century in IPL History: Chris Gayle, Yusuf Pathan, David Miller
The record for the fastest century in the IPL has been broken many times. Some of cricket’s highest-paid players have set this record. Here are the top 5 quickest centuries in IPL history:
- Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore) – 30 Balls vs Pune Warriors, 2013
- Yusuf Pathan (Rajasthan Royals) – 37 Balls vs Mumbai Indians, 2010
- David Miller (Punjab Kings)—38 Balls vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2013
- Travis Head (Sunrisers Hyderabad) – 39 Balls vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2024
- Will Jacks (Royal Challengers Bangalore) – 41 Balls vs Gujarat Titans, 2024
Now let’s take a closer look at each of these record-shattering innings and see what made these performances so unique.
1. Chris Gayle (RCB) – 30 Balls vs Pune Warriors, 2013
In the power game of T20 cricket, very few batsmen command the same fear as Chris Gayle. The West Indian big gun is the only batsman to hit a century in just 30 balls in IPL history. He achieved this feat against Pune Warriors in the 2013 IPL. Gayle’s batting was a simple show of power he was hitting boundaries and sixes with such ease.
In that game Gayle was right in the middle of a big batting innings, hitting 9 sixes and 5 fours in his 30-ball century. His strike rate of 333.33 was a reflection of the aggression with which he went after the bowlers. Even today this match is ranked among the memorable matches of IPL and made Gayle one of the destructive batsmen of the T20 format.
2. Yusuf Pathan (RR) – 37 Balls vs Mumbai Indians, 2010
One remarkable moment in IPL history is Yusuf Pathan’s stunning hundred off just 37 balls. He achieved this for the Rajasthan Royals against the Mumbai Indians in the 2010 season. Pathan’s knock was not just the pace of the ball; it was the style and the mithaas in which he batted and dominated the attack.
With 8 sixes and 9 fours in his 37-ball century, the crowd cheered with every shot as Pathan was most unapologetic. It was his brutal hitting that always played a crucial role in helping Rajasthan Royals to put up a stiff total. Pathan’s innings was one of the fastest and most explosive in IPL history. It showed how he could turn the game around for his bowlers in just minutes.
3. David Miller (PBKS) – 38 Balls vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2013
David Miller, a key player from South Africa, hit the 3rd-fastest century in IPL history. He scored 100 runs off just 38 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2013 IPL season. Miller’s innings was quite simply incredible as he battled some of the top bowlers in the world.
He blasted 7 sixes and 8 fours in his innings, and the capacity to get away from the board approx at will had made him a power to be reckoned with. This innings is always remembered for its raw power and Miller’s composure in the middle order. His 100 off four balls was the game-changing part of Punjab’s win and cemented more his reputation as one of the best finishers
of the IPL.
4. Travis Head (SRH) – 39 Balls vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2024
In the 2024 IPL season, Travis Head from Australia scored 100 not out in just 39 balls. He achieved this impressive feat while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore. His knock was a pleasing display of timed aggression as he tore the RCB bowlers apart with his strokes.
Head’s innings made 10 boundaries, with that coming off 6 sixes, and that century was made off an incredible 39 balls. This magnificent feat reminds him of being enshrined in the history books and turned him into one of the quickest century-makers in IPL. The knock meant his status as a high-class T20 player and a valuable asset to his franchise.
5. Will Jacks (RCB) – 41 Balls vs Gujarat Titans, 2024
Will Jacks had another explosive innings in the 2024 IPL season. He hit a century off only 41 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Gujarat Titans. Jacks, famous for his attacking style of play, gave a perfect demonstration of his power-hitting by going for the Gujarat bowlers without any hesitation.
Eight sixes and seven fours in a single innings was a perfect exhibition of modern-day T20 batting by Jacks. He supports RCB to post a big run chromosome as well as win him recognition as one of the upcoming names of T20 cricket. Jacks’ blistering brand of play made his century the most memorable of the season so far.
Fastest Century in IPL History
| Player | Team | Balls Taken for 100 | Opponent | Year |
| Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 30 | Pune Warriors | 2013 |
| Yusuf Pathan | Rajasthan Royals | 37 | Mumbai Indians | 2010 |
| David Miller | Punjab Kings | 38 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 2013 |
| Travis Head | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 39 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 2024 |
| Will Jacks | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 41 | Gujarat Titans | 2024 |
Why Are These Centuries So Special?
These centuries are not only about how many balls it took to score 100 runs. They also show the impact on the game. In the high-pressure environment of the IPL, every team aims to score quickly, and a fast century can change the course of a match. Here are a few reasons why these centuries stand out:
- Game-Changing Impact: A hundred in such a lesser time frame usually changes the game in favor of the batting team. It sets a markup for the bowlers and gives a possibility of scoring to the rest of the crew.
- Power-Hitting Superiddet: Hitting 100 in IPL quickly is all about battering the bowlers vigorously with power-hitting. The players who hold these records have given the world education on clearing boundaries with so much ease.
- Fast centuries are exciting for fans, especially in a fast-paced event like the IPL. These performances add up upto thrill and expectation duties and thus make the game more unpredictable.
Conclusion
The list of IPL’s fastest centuries shows the skill, strength, and determination of the players who achieved them. Chris Gayle’s 30-ball century in 2013 is unforgettable. Yusuf Pathan, David Miller, Travis Head, and Will Jacks all prove that a big century can change a match. The IPL has always celebrated attacking cricket. The record-breaking centuries show the bold and fearless spirit of T20 cricket.
As the IPL continues, more players will break records and enrich the tournament’s history. Gayle’s power, Pathan’s swagger, and Miller’s consistency are always among the most thrilling moments in IPL history.