30 Balls. 100 Runs. The IPL's Most Explosive Feat.
Scoring a century in T20 cricket is rare enough. Doing it at breakneck speed — under 40 balls — requires a level of ball-striking that borders on the superhuman. The IPL has produced some of the fastest centuries in all of T20 cricket, and the list reads like a hall of fame for power hitting.
Here is the definitive ranking of the fastest IPL centuries ever recorded.
Complete Ranking: Fastest IPL Centuries
| Rank | Player | Balls | Score | Against | Venue | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Chris Gayle](/players/chris-gayle) | 30 | 175* | PWI | Chinnaswamy, Bangalore | 2013 |
| 2 | [Chris Gayle](/players/chris-gayle) | 46 | 128* | DD | Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi | 2012 |
| 3 | [Adam Gilchrist](/players/adam-gilchrist) | 42 | 109* | MI | Rajiv Gandhi, Hyderabad | 2008 |
| 4 | [Rishabh Pant](/players/rishabh-pant) | 38 | 128* | SRH | Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi | 2018 |
| 5 | [David Miller](/players/david-miller) | 38 | 101* | RCB | Chinnaswamy, Bangalore | 2023 |
| 6 | [Chris Lynn](/players/chris-lynn) | 40 | 112 | GL | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 2017 |
| 7 | [Yusuf Pathan](/players/yusuf-pathan) | 37 | 100* | MI | DY Patil, Mumbai | 2010 |
| 8 | [AB de Villiers](/players/ab-de-villiers) | 43 | 133* | MI | Wankhede, Mumbai | 2015 |
| 9 | [KL Rahul](/players/kl-rahul) | 44 | 132* | RCB | Sharjah | 2020 |
| 10 | [Jos Buttler](/players/jos-buttler) | 45 | 124 | DC | Wankhede, Mumbai | 2022 |
| 11 | [Virender Sehwag](/players/virender-sehwag) | 46 | 122 | CSK | Indore | 2014 |
| 12 | [Shane Watson](/players/shane-watson) | 47 | 117* | SRH | Chinnaswamy, Bangalore | 2016 |
| 13 | [David Warner](/players/david-warner) | 49 | 126 | KKR | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 2017 |
| 14 | [Brendon McCullum](/players/brendon-mccullum) | 50 | 158* | RCB | Chinnaswamy, Bangalore | 2008 |
| 15 | [Virat Kohli](/players/virat-kohli) | 51 | 113 | KXIP | Chinnaswamy, Bangalore | 2016 |
The Gayle Standard: 30 Balls That Rewrote History
On April 23, 2013, Chris Gayle walked out at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and produced the single most destructive innings in IPL history. His 175 not out off just 66 balls included a century reached in 30 deliveries — a record that has stood for over a decade and shows no sign of falling.
Gayle hit 13 sixes and 7 fours in that knock. To put the speed of his century in perspective, he was scoring at a strike rate of 333.33 during those first 30 balls. Pune Warriors India had no answers. Their bowling attack was dismantled with a brutality rarely seen in professional cricket.
The Jamaican holds two entries in the top six fastest IPL centuries, a testament to his unique combination of power and timing that made him the most feared T20 batsman of his generation.
Venue Patterns: Where Speed Thrives
The data reveals a clear venue bias. The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore appears four times in the top 15, making it the undisputed home of fast centuries. The combination of a flat pitch, short boundaries (particularly square of the wicket), and Bangalore's altitude creates conditions where batsmen can clear the rope with minimal effort.
The Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi and Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai each appear twice, both grounds known for true bounce and carry that reward aggressive stroke-play.
Era Analysis: Are Centuries Getting Faster?
Breaking the list into IPL eras reveals an interesting pattern:
- 2008-2012 (Early Era): 4 centuries in top 15, average balls faced: 42
- 2013-2017 (Middle Era): 6 centuries in top 15, average balls faced: 41
- 2018-2025 (Modern Era): 5 centuries in top 15, average balls faced: 42
Contrary to popular belief, centuries are not getting significantly faster. While overall scoring rates have increased across the IPL, the very fastest centuries remain clustered around the 38-50 ball range regardless of era. Gayle's 30-ball record from 2013 remains an extreme outlier.
The Common Thread
Every player on this list shares one trait: they did not start slowly. Analysis shows that batsmen who reach IPL centuries in under 50 balls typically score at a strike rate above 150 in the powerplay itself. There is no "batting through to a hundred" at T20 pace — these innings are built on explosive starts that never relent.
FAQ
What is the fastest century in IPL history?
Chris Gayle scored a century in just 30 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL 2013. He finished with 175 not out off 66 balls.
Has anyone scored a century in fewer than 35 balls in the IPL?
Only Chris Gayle has achieved a sub-35-ball century in IPL history. His 30-ball hundred remains the only one below 35 deliveries, making it one of the most unassailable records in the tournament.
Which venue has seen the most fast centuries in IPL?
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore has hosted the most fast centuries (under 50 balls) in IPL history, with four entries in the all-time top 15, thanks to its short boundaries and batting-friendly conditions.