Chris Gayle's 30-Ball Century Remains the Fastest in IPL History

IPL Fastest Centuries: The Record That Has Stood for Over a Decade

The fastest century in IPL history arrived on April 23, 2013, in Bengaluru. Chris Gayle, batting for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Pune Warriors India, reached three figures off just 30 deliveries — a strike rate of 333.33 for his first 100 runs. The century arrived with such suddenness that even the capacity Chinnaswamy crowd seemed momentarily stunned.

Gayle reached his fifty off 17 balls, then accelerated further. His sixes were not mishits or slogs — each one was struck cleanly, with the full face of the bat, to a specific area of the ground. The 30-ball century is not just the fastest in IPL history; it is one of the five fastest centuries in T20 cricket globally.

Top 10 Fastest Centuries in IPL History

The Architecture of Gayle's 30-Ball Century

To understand Gayle's 30-ball century requires understanding his shot selection. He did not simply swing at everything — he identified precise areas to attack. Against slower bowlers, he stepped down the track and hit over long-on. Against quicker deliveries on a good length, he stayed back and cracked through mid-wicket or over extra cover.

By ball 15, he had reached 58. By ball 22, he had crossed 80. The final approach — from 80 to 100 in eight balls — involved four sixes and a four. The century came with a straight six that landed beyond the sightscreen at the city end.

Yusuf Pathan's Forgotten Classic

Yusuf Pathan's 37-ball century for Rajasthan Royals against MI in 2010 deserves greater historical recognition. Coming in at a time when RR were in difficulty, Pathan's hundred — built on raw power rather than Gayle's precision — changed the match in an over. His ability to hit over mid-wicket against both spin and pace from a very short backlift made him one of the most destructive middle-order batters of the early IPL era.

Rossouw's Modern Answer

Rilee Rossouw's 40-ball century for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Mumbai Indians in 2022 brought a modern dimension to this list. Rossouw's hundred featured extraordinary execution of the ramp shot and the inside-out cover drive — shots that were not part of the T20 vocabulary when Gayle set his record.

De Villiers' Genius at Number 3

AB de Villiers' 43-ball century for RCB against Mumbai Indians in 2015 stands as perhaps the most technically remarkable entry on this list. Where Gayle and Pathan relied on power, de Villiers used invention. He hit over fine leg off good-length deliveries, played reverse scoops off express pace, and repeatedly found gaps in fields that were specifically set to contain him.

Paul Valthaty's Single-Season Masterpiece

Paul Valthaty's 45-ball century for KXIP against CSK in 2011 represents one of IPL's most poignant records. A journeyman cricketer who appeared in just one dominant IPL season, Valthaty's 120* remains his defining professional moment — a reminder that IPL records are occasionally set by players whose broader careers did not match a single extraordinary performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the fastest century in IPL history?

Chris Gayle scored the fastest century in IPL history off just 30 balls for RCB against Pune Warriors India in 2013, as part of his record 175* innings.

Q: Who holds the record for the second-fastest IPL century?

Yusuf Pathan scored IPL's second-fastest century off 37 balls for Rajasthan Royals against Mumbai Indians in 2010.

Q: Has anyone scored a century in under 30 balls in any T20 match globally?

Several batters have scored centuries in 25-29 balls in T20 domestic cricket worldwide, but Gayle's 30-ball century remains the fastest in IPL specifically, which features stronger bowling attacks than most domestic competitions.