The fastest fifty or hundred is one of those records which is a little tough to beat. Adam Gilchrist held the record for the fastest IPL fifty (17 balls) and it took more than five years to break it as Yusuf Pathan did. And a further four years to break it. Thus, here are five of the quickest fifties in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). All of these have come post 2013.
Note: As many as seven players are tied at the 5th place in this list of fastest fifties in the IPL. But the player with the highest score is listed here.
KL Rahul – 14 balls vs Delhi (2018)
This innings could well be defined as KL Rahul’s coming of age innings. There was absolutely no doubt about his ability but he was playing the IPL after a gap of two years in 2018. He was the star player at Kings XI Punjab and was paid a hefty sum at the auctions. Moreover, the Karnataka lad was getting to bat at his preferred opening slot (he batted didn’t get to bat at the top consistently in the previous seasons).
It was KXIP’s first game of the season was against Delhi Daredevils (now, Capitals) in 2018. They were chasing 167 and Rahul came out all guns blazing. Right from the first over, he went after the bowling. He smacked Trent Boult for 16 in the first before picking up a six and a four off the next over which was bowled by Mohammed Shami. Amit Mishra came into the attack in the third over and went the distance. Rahul smashed him for a couple of sixes and three fours and brought up his fifty in just the third over. It came off just 14 balls, which created a record for the fastest fifty in the IPL. Rahul didn’t kick on and get a big score but his initial onslaught set up the game for KXIP.
Yusuf Pathan – 15 balls vs SRH (2014)
Yusuf Pathan may have lost some zing but he was a force to reckon with a few years ago. He had a big impact when he played for Rajasthan Royals (RR) first and then Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He once held the record for the fastest hundred (which came in 2010) in the IPL before Chris Gayle broke it. He also had recorded the fastest fifty in the 2014 season.
It was the fag end of the 2014 season and KKR were chasing 161. In order to finish second on the points table, they needed to get to the target in 15.2 overs. KKR did have a good start but lost their way in the middle. Pathan walked into bat at No. 4. 106 runs were required off 49 balls for the second-spot qualification at the time.
As soon as he walked in, Pathan started smashing the bowlers to all parts of the Eden Gardens. He took a special liking to Parvez Rasool and Karn Sharma before getting stuck into Dale Steyn. He smashed the premier South Africa fast bowler for 26 runs and in the process, completed his fifty in just 15 balls (fastest at the time). Pathan got out with 8 needed off 8 balls and he had finished with a stunning 22-ball 72 (five fours and seven sixes).
Sunil Narine – 15 balls vs RCB (2017)
This name might come as a surprise but Sunil Narine has had a significant impact batting at the top of the order. He’s been excellent for KKR and has given them some sparkling starts over the last few years. In 2017, he levelled the record for the fastest fifty as well.
An inspired batting performance from Mandeep Singh and Travis Head helped Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) get to 158 after an early stutter. Chasing almost eight runs an over, Narine and Lynn got KKR off to an absolutely rocking start. They put on a stunning 105 runs in the powerplay. Narine led the charge with a fabulous half-century which he reached off just 15 balls. He deflated the RCB bowlers along with Lynn who scored a quickfire half-century as well. That onslaught simply set the game up and it was a stroll after that stand for KKR.
Suresh Raina – 16 balls vs KXIP (2014)
Suresh Raina has never hogged the limelight for being the leading run-getter in the IPL in any season but it’s his consistent performances that has kept him ahead in the race in the overall runs list. He is second at the moment and this innings against KXIP back in 2014 is one that isn’t talked about a lot. It was the second qualifier and he batted like a dream.
Virender Sehwag’s magnificent 122 propelled KXIP to 226. Chasing more than 11 runs per over, CSK lost an early wicket which brough Raina to the crease. He started off in prime fashion and never stopped. It looked like he was running away with the game. He reached the 50-run landmark off just 16 balls (second-fastest at the time) and it came in just the fifth over. He kept going and smashed 33 runs in the sixth over of the game. When the powerplay ended, CSK’s score was 100 and Raina had raced off to 87 off just 25 balls. The Uttar Pradesh left-hander was runout in the seventh over and CSK stumbled after his dismissal and lost by 24 runs.
Chris Gayle – 17 balls vs PWI (2013)
A fastest 50 or 100 list without Chris Gayle would be pretty surprising. In his first few years with RCB, Gayle was in absolutely smoking form. He kept smashing all batting records. In 2011 and 2012, he won the Orange Cap and in 2013, even though he didn’t win the 2013 season, he scored more than 700 runs. That included a stunning 175 and that was the 30-ball hundred innings.
In the same innings, the big Jamaican opener got a fifty off 17 balls as well. He had a sedate first three balls before launching into the Pune Warriors India (PWI) bowlers. He took all bowlers to the cleaners and got to his half-century in the fifth over. He was on 50 off just 17 balls and his next fifty came off 13 balls which got him to the 100-run landmark off 30 balls, the fastest ton in the history of T20 cricket.
(Adam Gilchrist, Ishan Kishan, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Chris Morris and Hardik Pandya are the others who have got a fifty in 17 balls).
