5 fastest fifties in IPL history
Scoring a half-century is not only a personal achievement for the batter but it also helps the team. In the T20 format, a batter always looks to score quickly as there is not much time in such a fast and action-packed format. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), many batters have attacked right from ball one and went on to smash quickfire fifties for their respective teams over the years.
Let’s take a look at the 5 fastest half-centuries in the history of IPL:
3.Suresh Raina and Ishan Kishan (16 balls)
Suresh Raina played one of the most outrageous and mind-boggling knocks against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Qualifier 2 match in Mumbai in 2014. Chasing 227 to win, Raina came out all guns blazing and slammed a 16-ball fifty. He ended his innings at 87 runs off just 25 deliveries, which included 12 fours and six sixes at a stellar strike rate of 348.00.
Ishan Kishan also clobbered a 16-ball half-century against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the penultimate league match in Abu Dhabi in 2021. Mumbai Indians batted first as Ishan smoked 84 runs off 32 balls with the help of 11 fours and four maximums at a strike rate of 262.50.
2.Yusuf Pathan and Sunil Narine (15 balls)
Yusuf Pathan hammered a half-century in just 15 deliveries while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) against SRH in Kolkata in 2014. To finish second on the points table, Yusuf played a destructive inning of 72 runs off 22 balls with five fours and seven sixes at a strike rate of 327.27 as KKR chased their target of 161 in just 14.2 overs.
Sunil Narine slammed a fifty in just 15 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Bangalore in 2017. Chasing 159 to win, KKR’s Narine scored 54 runs off 17 balls with six fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 317.64 to win the match for his side.
1.KL Rahul and Pat Cummins (14 balls)
KL Rahul and Pat Cummins both have scored the joint-fastest fifty in IPL history. Rahul tonked a 14-ball fifty against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Mohali in 2018. Chasing 167, the PBKS skipper Rahul hammered 51 runs off 16 balls with a 318.75 strike rate, which included six fours and four maximums as his side won the game.
Pat Cummins is the latest to join this list right at the top as he also struck a fifty in just 14 balls against MI in Pune in 2022. Needing 162 to win, he destroyed MI especially Daniel Sams as he slammed 35 runs off his over. Cummins remained unbeaten on 56 runs off 15 balls with four fours and six maximums at a strike rate of 373.33 to end a successful run chase in just 16 overs.
