IPL Fastest Hundreds: From Gayle's 30-Ball Century to Every Sub-50 Ball Ton
A century in 50 balls in an IPL match requires scoring at 200 strike rate from the very first delivery — an act of sustained aggression that only the game's most gifted power-hitters can maintain.
Fastest IPL Centuries (Sub-50 Balls)
| Rank | Balls | Player | Score | Against | Year | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 | Chris Gayle | 175* | Pune Warriors | 2013 | 13 | 17 |
| 2 | 37 | David Miller | 101* | Royal Challengers | 2013 | 5 | 10 |
| 3 | 39 | AB de Villiers | 129* | Gujarat Lions | 2016 | 9 | 12 |
| 4 | 43 | KL Rahul | 110* | Delhi Capitals | 2018 | 5 | 10 |
| 5 | 45 | Murali Vijay | 127 | Chennai | 2010 | 10 | 12 |
| 6 | 46 | Chris Gayle | 132* | Delhi | 2012 | 10 | 16 |
| 7 | 48 | Rishabh Pant | 128* | SRH | 2018 | 8 | 11 |
| 8 | 49 | Virat Kohli | 113 | RR | 2016 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 50 | Brendon McCullum | 158* | RCB | 2008 | 10 | 13 |
| 10 | 51 | AB de Villiers | 104* | Sunrisers | 2016 | 7 | 8 |
Gayle's 30-Ball Century: A Benchmark Beyond Reach
The 30-ball century Gayle struck on 23 April 2013 against Pune Warriors stands as one of the fastest hundreds in any form of professional cricket. To score 100 runs in 30 balls requires hitting boundaries from nearly half of all deliveries faced — Gayle managed 13 fours and 8 sixes in his first 30 balls, meaning 21 of those 30 balls resulted in a boundary.
David Miller's 37-Ball Hundred: The Comeback Century
Miller's 37-ball century for Kings XI Punjab against RCB in 2013 is arguably the most pressure-packed fast century in IPL history. KXIP needed 87 runs from the final 5 overs with 6 wickets down. Miller hit 101* off 38 balls, winning the match from a seemingly impossible position.
AB de Villiers' 39-Ball Hundred: Technical Mastery at Speed
De Villiers' 39-ball century for RCB against Gujarat Lions in 2016 demonstrated that fast T20 hundreds need not rely on brute power. Every one of his 10+ sixes came from a different shot — the slog sweep, the ramp, the inside-out drive — each struck with timing precision rather than muscle.
The Distribution of Fast Centuries
| Balls Range | Count | % of All IPL 100s |
|---|---|---|
| 30-39 | 2 | 6.5% |
| 40-49 | 6 | 19.4% |
| 50-59 | 11 | 35.5% |
| 60+ | 12 | 38.7% |
Most IPL centuries (75%+) have been scored between 50 and 70+ balls — at strike rates of 140-200 rather than the extreme 250+ of the very fastest innings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest century in IPL history?
Chris Gayle scored a century off just 30 balls during his 175* innings for RCB against Pune Warriors India on 23 April 2013. It is the fastest hundred in IPL history.
Who scored the second-fastest century in IPL?
David Miller scored a century off 37 balls for Kings XI Punjab against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2013 in a match-winning chase from a near-impossible position.
How many batsmen have scored a century in under 40 balls in IPL?
Only two players have scored IPL centuries in under 40 balls: Chris Gayle (30 balls) and David Miller (37 balls). AB de Villiers is third with his 39-ball hundred.
What is the slowest century in IPL history?
The slowest IPL centuries have been scored in approximately 70-75 balls. The boundary between "century" and "slow by IPL standards" is roughly 65+ balls representing a constructive approach.
Has any player scored two IPL centuries in the same season?
Yes. Virat Kohli scored four centuries in IPL 2016 — the most by any player in a single IPL season. Jos Buttler and Chris Gayle have each scored two centuries in a single season on multiple occasions.