IPL: Statistical Analysis of the first 50 IPL centuries
A century is no mean achievement for a batsman in any format of cricket. When it comes in a T20 game, it is even more special as not every good batsman, however complete he is, can breach the three-figure mark in the game's shortest format.
Brendon McCullum, by scoring a dazzling century to set the stage ablaze, had given IPL just the kind of start its forefathers would have envisioned. Ten years hence, Rishabh Pant, who was himself only ten years old when McCullum did what he did to RCB, showcased magic with his willow as he happened to score IPL history's 50th century.
Let us dive into the numbers curated by IPL centurions over the years as the league completes a decade and the list of centuries crosses half a century.
Player-wise break up of IPL hundreds
'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle is the leader of the pack when it comes to scoring hundreds in the marquee league. The Jamaican has scored 5 centuries, all of which have come in a winning cause, and leads Virat Kohli who has managed 4 centuries, all of which came in 2016.
Brendon McCullum became the first ever batsman to score an IPL century as he achieved the feat on IPL's debut on 18th April 2008.
Manish Pandey became the first Indian to register a three-figure score in IPL history, courtest his match-winning effort against Deccan Chargers in 2009.
After Indians, who have scored 18 out of the 50 IPL centuries, Australians and Windies batsmen have managed to score big in India's T20 extravaganza, with 11 and 8 hundreds respectively.
South Africans with 7 centuries are next, followed by the Kiwis, Lankans and the English, each of who have contributed 2 hundreds.
Only 5 players have been able to score a century while captaining an IPL team. Virat Kohli, who had a breakaway 2016 with 973 runs, scored all his four centuries that season, stamping his authority over the leadership role.