The Long Road to a Ton: The Slowest Centuries in IPL History

Indian Premier League (IPL) has raised the bar of how cricket is being played. With a margin of error being very low even a little mistake can cost the game the team. In modern-day cricket, a batter can make an as big impact as a centurion in just 10 balls but there have been instances when going has got tough and run-scoring has been difficult.

This particularly has been because of the tough batting conditions, which haven’t allowed batters to score freely. However, there have been some greats who have aced this challenge and have played some incredible knocks. Although they took some time to get going, they ensured that they registered big scores and took their team to good totals. In this piece, we take a look at the slowest century in the IPL. 

Slowest century in IPL

1. Virat Kohli’s century in 67 balls against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Virat Kohli holds the record for the slowest century in IPL after he achieved the feat in the ongoing IPL 2024. Kohli, in a game against Rajasthan Royals at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, scored his 8th century in the league but it came in 67 balls, which was the slowest in the league.

The opening batter started off pretty well, hitting a flurry of boundaries, but losing wickets at the other end forced him to anchor the innings and hold the one end. He made sure he stayed there till the end and finished with the innings of unbeaten 113 runs off 72 balls with the help of 11 boundaries and four sixes. 

2. Manish Pandey’s century in 67 balls 

Manish Pandey was the first-ever centurion from India in the Indian Premier League. The Karnataka batter achieved the feat in the 2009 edition of the league, playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In the game against Deccan Chargers, the batter oozed his class. Although the conditions were tough to bat on in Centurion, South Africa, where IPL 2024 took place, he scored more than 50% of his team’s runs.

Pandey brought his century in 67 balls and powered his team to a total of 170 runs. He ended the innings with an unbeaten 114 in 73 balls to go with 4 sixes and 10 fours. The right-hander held the record of the slowest century in IPL for more than one decade till it was equaled by Virat Kohli in IPL 2024.

3. Sachin Tendulkar’s century against Kochi Tuskers Kerala in IPL 2011

Batting great and former Mumbai Indians skipper Sachin Tendulkar also features in the list of slowest century in IPL. It came during the game between Mumbai Indians and Kochi Tuskers Kerala in the IPL 2011. Tendulkar played the role of anchor to perfection and made sure he carried his bat through.

Opening the batting, he got to his hundred in the last over in 66 balls and ended with an unbeaten 100* along with h 12 fours and 3 sixes that powered Mumbai to 182/2. However, his effort went in vain as his team lost the game against Kochi, who chased the target with 8 wickets in 19 overs.

4. David Warner’s century against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2010

The greatest overseas batter to play in the IPL, David Warner has etched his name in almost every batting record in the league. While he is known for his fiercest best, the batter also has the fourth slowest century in the IPL to his name.

While playing for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), in IPL 2010, Warner played a stellar innings against Kolkata Knight Riders. On a pitch, where almost every batter struggled, young Warner oozed his class and crafted a masterclass century. He brought up his ton in 66 balls and ended with innings of 107* in 69 balls, hitting 9 fours and 5 sixes. His innings powered his team to a total of 177 runs and then eventually won the game by 40 runs. 

5. Jos Buttler’s century against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2022

England batter Jos Buttler, who also features in the list of most tons in IPL, has the fifth slowest century in IPL. The Rajasthan Royals batter achieved the feat while playing against Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2022. During that season, the batter was going through the red hot form as he slammed four centuries in the season. The keeper-batter played a fantastic innings, batting at top order and brought up his century in 68 deliveries with 11 fours and 5 sixes. In that season, Buttler ended with over 800 runs to his name.