The Indian Premier League (IPL) has produced some of the most explosive batting performances in T20 cricket. From Chris Gayle’s legendary 30-ball century to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s record-breaking hundreds, the tournament continues to showcase extraordinary power hitting.
Chris Gayle holds the record for the fastest century in IPL history, reaching 100 runs in just 30 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India on April 23, 2013. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi follows with centuries in 35 and 36 balls, securing the second and third positions in the all-time rankings.
In this article, we cover the top 10 fastest centuries in IPL history, including the players, balls taken to reach 100, match details and memorable performances.
Who Scored the Fastest Century in IPL?
Chris Gayle scored the fastest century in IPL history, reaching the milestone in just 30 balls against Pune Warriors India in 2013. Playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gayle delivered a remarkable display of power hitting that remains one of the greatest individual performances in the competition.
He finished unbeaten on 175 runs from 66 balls, hitting 13 fours and 17 sixes. His innings helped RCB post 263/5, and the team eventually won by 130 runs.
Gayle’s record has survived more than a decade of increasingly aggressive T20 batting. Even as new players continue to score rapid centuries, his 30-ball hundred remains the benchmark for explosive IPL batting.
Top 10 Fastest Centuries in IPL History
The following table ranks the fastest IPL hundreds by the number of balls required to complete a century. It includes the leading performances from the updated records.
| Rank | Player | Balls | Match | Venue | Date |
| 1 | Chris Gayle | 30 | RCB vs Pune Warriors | Bangalore | 23 April 2013 |
| 2 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 35 | Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans | Jaipur | 28 April 2025 |
| 3 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 36 | Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Jaipur | 25 April 2026 |
| 4 | Yusuf Pathan | 37 | Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians | Mumbai | 13 March 2010 |
| 5 | Heinrich Klaasen | 37 | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Delhi | 25 May 2025 |
| 6 | David Miller | 38 | Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | Mohali | 6 May 2013 |
| 7 | Travis Head | 39 | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | Bengaluru | 15 April 2024 |
| 8 | Priyansh Arya | 39 | Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings | Mullanpur | 7 April 2025 |
| 9 | Abhishek Sharma | 40 | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings | Hyderabad | 12 April 2025 |
| 10 | Will Jacks | 41 | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Titans | Ahmedabad | 28 April 2024 |
Note: Travis Head and Priyansh Arya both reached their centuries in 39 balls. The table follows the order in the supplied records.
Top 10 Fastest Hundreds in IPL: Player Highlights
1. Chris Gayle – 30 Balls
Chris Gayle tops the list with his extraordinary 30-ball century against Pune Warriors India on April 23, 2013. His unbeaten 175 remains the highest individual score in IPL history. Gayle’s innings included 17 sixes and 13 fours, showcasing his ability to dominate an entire bowling attack.
2. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi – 35 Balls
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made history on April 28, 2025, scoring a century in 35 balls for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans. At just 14 years old, he became the fastest Indian batter to reach an IPL century. His innings featured fearless hitting and remarkable composure against experienced bowlers.
3. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi – 36 Balls
Sooryavanshi added another milestone on April 25, 2026, reaching his century in 36 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad. His 103-run innings demonstrated his consistency and attacking intent, making him the only player in the top three to feature twice.
4. Yusuf Pathan – 37 Balls
Yusuf Pathan reached his century in 37 balls for Rajasthan Royals against Mumbai Indians on March 13, 2010. His aggressive approach and ability to clear the boundary made him one of the most dangerous batters during the early IPL seasons.
5. Heinrich Klaasen – 37 Balls
Heinrich Klaasen matched Yusuf Pathan’s 37-ball mark for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Kolkata Knight Riders on May 25, 2025. Known for his powerful stroke play, Klaasen demonstrated how effectively a middle-order batter can accelerate an innings and put pressure on the opposition.
6. David Miller – 38 Balls
David Miller scored a century in 38 balls for Kings XI Punjab against Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 6, 2013. His innings highlighted his finishing ability and reputation as a batter capable of changing a match in a short period.
7. Travis Head – 39 Balls
Travis Head reached his century in 39 balls for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 15, 2024. His aggressive opening style played an important role in SRH’s high-scoring campaign and helped establish him as one of the IPL’s most dangerous top-order batters.
8. Priyansh Arya – 39 Balls
Priyansh Arya also completed a century in 39 balls for Punjab Kings against Chennai Super Kings in April 2025. His performance highlighted the growing impact of young Indian players who approach T20 cricket with attacking intent from the start.
9. Abhishek Sharma – 40 Balls
Abhishek Sharma scored a century in 40 balls for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Punjab Kings on April 12, 2025. His attacking stroke play and ability to score quickly through the powerplay and middle overs have made him a key batter for SRH.
10. Will Jacks – 41 Balls
Will Jacks completed his century in 41 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Gujarat Titans on April 28, 2024. His powerful hitting and ability to accelerate against both pace and spin helped him secure a place among the fastest IPL centurions.
What Makes the Fastest Century in IPL So Special?
Scoring a century in T20 cricket requires exceptional timing, power and consistency. Completing the milestone in fewer than 40 balls is even more challenging because batters must maintain a high scoring rate while managing the risk of dismissal.
Several factors contribute to these performances:
- Power hitting: Regular boundaries help batters accumulate runs rapidly.
- Strike rotation: Singles and doubles maintain momentum between boundaries.
- Pitch conditions: Batting-friendly surfaces can favour aggressive stroke play.
- Bowling quality: Dominating international bowlers requires precision and confidence.
- Batting position: Openers often have more deliveries available to build an innings, while middle-order players may need to attack immediately.
Chris Gayle’s 30-ball century remains the ultimate example of explosive batting. However, Sooryavanshi’s performances show how emerging talent continues to challenge established records.
Conclusion
Chris Gayle remains the record-holder for the fastest century in IPL history with his remarkable 30-ball hundred in 2013. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as his closest challenger, scoring centuries in 35 and 36 balls, while Yusuf Pathan, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller have also produced memorable performances.
These innings demonstrate the extraordinary power and skill required to dominate T20 cricket. As the IPL continues to evolve, the race to break Gayle’s long-standing record will remain one of the most exciting individual milestones in the tournament.
FAQs
Chris Gayle holds the record for the fastest century in IPL history, reaching 100 runs in 30 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in 2013.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi holds the second-fastest IPL century record with his 35-ball hundred for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans in 2025.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the fastest Indian batter to score an IPL century, reaching 100 runs in 35 balls.
Chris Gayle took 30 balls to complete his century and eventually finished unbeaten on 175 runs from 66 deliveries.
No. Chris Gayle’s 30-ball century remains the fastest in the supplied records, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 35-ball hundred ranking second.
Karan Malhotra is a passionate cricket enthusiast who enjoys writing about the IPL, international cricket, player performances, and match updates. At TheIPLCricket, he focuses on creating simple, informative, and engaging content to help fans stay updated with the latest happenings in the cricket world.
