Joyful Hundreds – Top 5 IPL centuries in winning causes

Indian Premier League has a trend of producing enthralling batting knocks every year. Several players have smashed a ton in the tournament, playing a crucial role in their side’s victory. The IPL often brings out the best in a player. What follows is the audience witnessing an outstanding individual effort that decides the course of a match. Since the inception of the tournament, here are the top five centuries which have come in winning causes:

5. AB de Villiers vs Gujarat Lions

The South African stalwart possesses an extraordinary ability to turn the tide from any situation. He played one of the best knocks in the IPL 2016 donning the RCB jersey against the now-defunct Gujarat Lions. De Villiers smashed a 43-ball ton at the jam-packed Chinnaswamy Stadium.

He literally toyed with the opposition bowling scoring 129 off just 52 deliveries with 10 fours and 12 sixes. His strike-rate during the innings was unimaginable 248. In reply to the mammoth score, the Lions capitulated to only 104 with Chris Jordan returning with the figures of 4/11. Yuzvendra Chahal also picked up three wickets in his spell.

4. Brendon McCullum vs Royal Challengers Bangalore

Brendon McCullum is one of the main reasons why IPL got off to a scintillating start. His trail-blazing knock of 158 in the opening game of the inaugural season set the ball rolling. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise was at the receiving end of the assault.

Donning the KKR jersey, McCullum decimated the opposition with his knock and helped his team post a huge total of 222 runs on the board. In response, the pressure was on the RCB batsmen throughout and they ended up getting bowled out for only 82 runs.

3. Chris Gayle vs Pune Warriors

Chris Gayle’s 175*(66) against PWI, IPL 2017. He scored fastest T20 hundred in just 30 deliveries and hit 17 sixes and 13 fours in that inning. pic.twitter.com/zEdY5JjRjS

— Cricket Freak (@cricket1729) August 23, 2020

Chris Gayle and IPL have a special relationship on the field. The Caribbean giant is known to smoke sixes for fun. He scored a lot of tons for different teams in the T20 extravaganza. The now-defunct franchise Pune Warriors India experienced his brutal batting prowess first hand in the IPL 2013.

Gayle set the stadium ablaze by smashing 175 off just 66 balls with 13 fours and as many as 17 sixes scoring more than 150 runs through boundaries itself. It was certainly one of the best, if not, the best knock in the history of the IPL and no doubt it ended up in the winning cause.

Chasing a huge total, the Pune franchise could only reach only 133 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs. It was Gayle’s day with the ball as he picked up two wickets as well.

2. David Miller vs Royal Challengers Bangalore

South Africa’s ‘Killer Miller’, in 2013, pulled off one of the finest run-chases in the history of IPL. RCB, after batting first, posted a challenging total of 190 on the scoreboard. It was looking like a daunting task for KXIP to hunt down the target, especially after losing the first four wickets for just 64 runs.

The Bangalore franchise was cruising towards the victory but Miller had other plans. Miller smashed an unbeaten 101 in just 38 deliveries, smoking 8 fours and 7 sixes in the process. Miller completely turned the game in favour of his side and scripted a memorable win for Kings XI Punjab. His explosive knock is regarded as one of the best IPL knocks while chasing.

1. Virat Kohli vs Rising Pune Supergiant

Virat Kohli, the run-machine of the IPL, is currently sitting on the top in the list of highest run-scorers of the tournament. Kohli’s consistency and batting technique is considered as second to none and the RCB skipper flaunted his class against Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016.

Rising Pune Supergiant posted a competitive score of 191 runs on the back of Ajinkya Rahane and Saurabh Tiwary’s exceptional batting. In response, skipper Kohli ensured that RCB hunted down the total with three deliveries to spare. Kohli smashed an unbeaten 108 off just 58 deliveries to single-handedly steer RCB to a famous victory. He was also assisted by Shane Watson, who struck a quick-fire 36 off just 13 deliveries to make things easier for RCB.

#OnThisDay in 2016 when @imVkohli scored his 2nd IPL century against RISING Pune Supergiants, chasing 191

ONE OF MY ALL TINE FAVORITE ❤❤❤@RCBTweets #cricket pic.twitter.com/g0tRdvedHv

— avni (@avni96811008) May 7, 2020