Need for speed: All-time fastest knocks in the IPL by Indians
The IPL is popular for some of the overseas players’ exhibiting their range of big-hitting. But there are many instances where the Indian players showed they are not behind. In fact, the record for the fastest fifty of the IPL belongs to an Indian keeper-batsman, KL Rahul.
With criteria of minimum 25 runs scored, the Indian player who has got the highest strike rate in an IPL innings is Balachandra Akhil. The Karnataka all-rounder was an integral part of RCB in the initial seasons. Akhil smashed an unbeaten 27 from only seven balls at a strike rate of 385.71 against Deccan Chargers in the inaugural edition.
The next on this list is Virat Kohli’s 7-ball 25 during the 2019 season’s rain-affected match against Rajasthan Royals. The RCB skipper began his innings with consecutive sixes off the first two balls. Thus, Kohli became the first player in IPL history to smash sixes on the first two balls of a team’s innings. Virat had a strike rate of 357.14 during his brief knock.
The 3rd fastest IPL knock by an Indian is also recorded for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Sarfaraz Khan, during the 2016 season, smashed an unbeaten 35 from only ten deliveries in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Some of the teenager’s shots against the team with the best bowling attack caught everyone’s attention.
Suresh Raina’s knock in the 2014 IPL Qualifier stands 4th in this list as it had a strike rate of 348. In just 25 balls that he faced, Raina cruised to 87 with the help of 12 fours and six sixes. He seemed to take his team CSK over the winning line all alone until he was run-out straight after a dream phase during the Powerplay overs. This knock recorded the highest strike rate during any 50+ score in the IPL. It broke the record of Yusuf Pathan’s 327.27 during his 22-ball 72 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Raina’s knock came in less than a week’s time after Yusuf went crazy at the Eden Gardens to secure KKR a place in the top two in 2014.
(Stats as on September 4, 2020)
