Fastest Century in IPL: Chris Gayle Still Holds the Record

Fastest Century in IPL

The fastest century in IPL history belongs to Chris Gayle, who reached 100 runs from just 30 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in 2013. His extraordinary innings remains one of the most remarkable batting displays in T20 cricket.

The IPL has produced numerous explosive batters and unforgettable hundreds over the years. From Gayle’s record-breaking assault to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s historic century as a teenager, the list of the fastest IPL centuries features some of the competition’s most destructive hitters.

Fastest 100 in IPL history

Here are the quickest centuries recorded in the Indian Premier League based on the number of balls required to reach 100:

PlayerTeamBallsOpponentYear
Chris GayleRoyal Challengers Bangalore30Pune Warriors2013
Vaibhav SooryavanshiRajasthan Royals35Gujarat Titans2025
Vaibhav SooryavanshiRajasthan Royals36Sunrisers Hyderabad2026
Yusuf PathanRajasthan Royals37Mumbai Indians2010
Heinrich KlaasenSunrisers Hyderabad37Kolkata Knight Riders2025
David MillerKings XI Punjab38Royal Challengers Bangalore2013
Travis HeadSunrisers Hyderabad39Royal Challengers Bengaluru2024
Priyansh AryaPunjab Kings39Chennai Super Kings2025
Abhishek SharmaSunrisers Hyderabad40Punjab Kings2025
Will JacksRoyal Challengers Bengaluru41Gujarat Titans2024

Chris Gayle’s 30-ball century

Fastest Century in IPL

Chris Gayle‘s record-breaking performance came during Royal Challengers Bangalore’s match against Pune Warriors at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL 2013.

Gayle reached his century in only 30 deliveries, setting a record that remains the fastest IPL century. He eventually finished unbeaten on 175 runs from 66 balls, producing one of the most dominant individual innings in T20 history.

His innings included:

  • 13 fours
  • 17 sixes
  • 175 runs from 66 balls
  • Century from 30 balls

The 17 sixes were also an IPL record for the most sixes in a single innings at the time. RCB eventually won the match by 130 runs.

Gayle’s innings became known as one of the greatest examples of his trademark power hitting. His ability to clear the boundary almost at will turned the contest into a one-sided affair.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s rise into the record books

Fastest Century in IPL

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi occupies a unique position in the IPL’s fastest-century records.

Playing for Rajasthan Royals, he scored a century from 35 balls against Gujarat Titans in 2025, making him the fastest Indian to score an IPL hundred. His innings produced 101 runs from 38 balls, with seven fours and 11 sixes.

The performance was particularly remarkable because of his age. At 14 years and 32 days, Sooryavanshi became the youngest player to score a century in the IPL.

He later recorded another rapid century, reaching three figures from 36 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2026. Having two entries among the fastest IPL centuries highlights how quickly he has established himself as an explosive T20 batter.

Yusuf Pathan’s 37-ball century

Before Gayle produced his 30-ball masterpiece, Yusuf Pathan held the IPL record for the fastest century.

Pathan reached 100 from 37 balls while playing for Rajasthan Royals against Mumbai Indians during the 2010 season.

His innings featured eight sixes and nine fours. Pathan’s powerful hitting nearly produced a remarkable run chase, but Rajasthan Royals ultimately lost by four runs after Mumbai Indians posted 212.

Although the result went against Rajasthan, Pathan’s innings remained one of the most memorable individual performances from the early years of the IPL.

Heinrich Klaasen matches the 37-ball mark

Heinrich Klaasen joined Yusuf Pathan on the 37-ball century list in IPL 2025.

The Sunrisers Hyderabad batter reached his hundred against Kolkata Knight Riders with an aggressive innings that demonstrated his ability to dominate spin and pace.

His performance placed him among the very small group of players to have reached an IPL century in fewer than 40 deliveries.

Also Read:- Most Goals in Football History: Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi and the All-Time Goal Scorers

David Miller’s 38-ball hundred

Fastest Century in IPL

David Miller produced another famous fast century in IPL 2013.

Representing Kings XI Punjab, Miller scored an unbeaten 101 from 38 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore. His century came during a dramatic run chase and included powerful strokeplay throughout the innings.

The knock earned Miller recognition as one of the most dangerous finishers in T20 cricket and placed him just behind Gayle and the 37-ball centuries on the all-time IPL list.

Other IPL batters with rapid centuries

The list of fastest IPL hundreds extends well beyond the top five.

Travis Head reached his century from 39 balls for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2024. His aggressive opening style has made him one of the most effective power hitters in modern T20 cricket.

Priyansh Arya also needed only 39 balls for his century for Punjab Kings against Chennai Super Kings in 2025. Abhishek Sharma followed with a 40-ball hundred against Punjab Kings during the same season.

At 41 balls, Will Jacks recorded another explosive century for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Gujarat Titans in 2024.

The early IPL seasons also produced fast hundreds from Adam Gilchrist, AB de Villiers and Sanath Jayasuriya, demonstrating that aggressive batting has been central to the tournament since its first season.

Fastest IPL century by an Indian

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi holds the record for the fastest IPL century by an Indian, reaching 100 from 35 balls against Gujarat Titans in 2025.

His achievement surpassed Yusuf Pathan’s previous Indian record of 37 balls. Sooryavanshi’s second entry at 36 balls further underlines his exceptional scoring speed.

The distinction is especially notable because the IPL has featured many elite Indian power hitters, including Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav and other established stars.

Fastest IPL century outside India

Mayank Agarwal’s 45-ball century for Kings XI Punjab against Rajasthan Royals in Sharjah is notable as the fastest IPL hundred recorded outside India in the supplied record.

The match took place during IPL 2020, when the tournament was held in the United Arab Emirates.

Playing away from India’s traditionally high-scoring venues, Agarwal produced an aggressive century that helped establish him among the tournament’s quickest century-makers.

Why are fast centuries so difficult in the IPL?

Scoring 100 runs in fewer than 40 balls requires an exceptional combination of power, timing and consistency. A batter needs to score at an extraordinary strike rate while also limiting dot balls.

There are several factors behind these rapid hundreds:

  • Power hitting: Sixes provide the fastest route to a high strike rate.
  • Boundary frequency: A combination of fours and sixes allows batters to accumulate runs quickly.
  • Strong starts: Openers often have the opportunity to attack during the fielding restrictions.
  • Shot selection: Fast century-makers generally maintain a high scoring rate without taking unnecessary risks.
  • Favorable conditions: Pitch quality, ground dimensions and bowling attacks can significantly influence scoring.

The modern IPL has increasingly encouraged aggressive batting, with several teams building their batting strategies around high strike rates and attacking powerplay cricket.

Fastest century vs highest IPL score

The fastest century and the highest individual score in IPL history are two different records.

Chris Gayle owns the distinction of recording the fastest century with his 30-ball hundred, but his 175-run innings also makes the performance particularly remarkable. He scored 175 from 66 balls, combining an extraordinary scoring rate with the ability to maintain his attack deep into the innings.

A fast century therefore does not necessarily mean a player will finish with the highest score. Reaching 100 quickly is about the speed of scoring, while a huge final score also depends on how long the batter remains at the crease.

Also Read:- FIFA World Cup 2022: Golden Ball, Golden Boot, Golden Glove and All Award Winners

Frequently asked questions

1.Who has scored the fastest century in IPL history?

Chris Gayle holds the record for the fastest IPL century. He reached 100 from 30 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in 2013.

2.Who was the first player to score a 100 in 30 balls in IPL?

Chris Gayle was the first and remains the only player to score an IPL century in exactly 30 balls, producing the record-breaking innings in 2013.

3.Who scored a 37-ball century in IPL?

Yusuf Pathan and Heinrich Klaasen have both scored IPL centuries from 37 balls. Pathan achieved the feat in 2010, while Klaasen did so in 2025.

4.Who scored the fastest IPL century outside India?

Mayank Agarwal recorded a 45-ball IPL century against Rajasthan Royals in Sharjah during IPL 2020, making it the fastest IPL hundred outside India in the listed record.

Conclusion

Chris Gayle’s 30-ball century remains the benchmark for speed in IPL batting. His extraordinary performance for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013 continues to sit at the top of the fastest IPL century list.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as the leading Indian name in the record books with his 35-ball century, while Yusuf Pathan, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Travis Head and several other explosive batters have also produced remarkable hundreds.

Scroll to Top