10 instances when an IPL century was scored in a losing cause

Kohli's first IPL century for RCB wasn't sufficient enough as Gujarat Lions won that match
Kohli's first IPL century for RCB wasn't sufficient enough as Gujarat Lions won that match

It is a dream for every batsman taking part in the Indian Premier League to score a century in the cash-rich league.

An IPL century draws the attention of the fans and elevates the player's confidence. If a player scores a 100, he almost guarantees a victory for his side. However, that has not been the case always as out of the 48 instances where an individual has crossed the three-digit landmark, only 38 ended in a winning cause.

Chris Gayle holds the record for the highest number of centuries (6) in his team's win.

Here's a brief summary of the 10 occasions where an IPL centurion's efforts went in vain-


#10 Rishabh Pant - 128*(63) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 10th May 2018

Rishabh Pant played one of the finest knocks in IPL history yet the Daredevils failed to get over the line
Rishabh Pant played one of the finest knocks in IPL history yet the Daredevils failed to get over the line

Pant was involved in two run-outs as Delhi Daredevils made a slow start against Kane Williamson’s Sunrisers Hyderabad at Feroz Shah Kotla. The home side could only score 98 in the first 14 overs as the opposition bowling attack had imposed total control.

However, Rishabh Pant switched gears and destroyed the bowling figures of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Siddarth Kaul. He took 36 balls to reach his half-century while he took just 20 more to add 50 more to it.

In the process, Pant also broke the record for the highest individual score by an Indian in T20s by scoring an unbeaten 128 off just 63 balls. The wicket-keeper batsman’s knock comprised of 15 boundaries and 7 maximums as the Daredevils put up a score of 187 on the board on a slow Kotla wicket.

The fans expected DD to win the match quite comfortably. However, a poor display by the bowling attack and some brilliant stroke-making by the Sunrisers Hyderabad batsmen ensured that the Daredevils end up on the losing side.

Kane Williamson’s gritty 83* and Shikhar Dhawan’s quick-fire 92* helped SRH achieve the target with 9 wickets in hand and 7 balls to spare. IPL fans will always remember Pant’s monumental effort as one of the most fearless knocks in IPL history.

#9 Hashim Amla - 104 (60) vs Gujarat Lions, 7th May 2017

Amla surprisingly went unsold in the IPL Auction 2018
Amla surprisingly went unsold in the IPL Auction 2018

Playing for the Kings XI Punjab, Hashim Amla scored a classic century against Suresh Raina’s Gujarat Lions.

Raina won the toss and invited the home side to bat first on a flat Indore wicket. Pradeep Sangwan dismissed Martin Guptill in the first over of the innings which united Hashim Amla with Shaun Marsh.

The duo tried to stabilize the innings by building a partnership. Both the individuals brought up their respective fifties before Marsh (58) departed.

Amla continued the assault from the other end as he went on to score his second IPL century off 59 balls before losing his wicket to Basil Thampi on the very next ball. The South African’s efforts were not sufficient, as the Lions’ onslaught led by Dwayne Smith, made sure that the visitors win the match by 6 wickets.

#8 Steve Smith - 101 (54) vs Gujarat Lions, 29th April 2016

Steve Smith's first ever IPL 100 came playing for the Rising Pune SuperGiants
Steve Smith's first ever IPL 100 came playing for the Rising Pune SuperGiants

The Australian skipper was in the form of his life in 2015-16. He continued to make use of his excellent run of form by notching up his first IPL century against the Gujarat Lions.

Playing in front of the home crowd, Pune were sent in to bat first after the coin flipped in the favour of Suresh Raina. After losing Saurabh Tiwary early in the innings, Ajinkya Rahane joined hands with Steve Smith to stitch together a 111 run partnership for the 2nd wicket.

Smith switched gears and unleashed the big hits as he became the first ever batsman to score a century for the Pune franchise.

Gujarat Lions' bowlers restricted RPSG to 195 despite Steve Smith's 101. While chasing, the Lions' batting order took the fight to the last ball of the match. James Faulkner's sealed the deal for the Lions with a single off the last ball of the match.

#7 Virat Kohli - 100* (63) vs Gujarat Lions, 24th April 2016

Virat Kohli celebrates after reaching the three-digit landmark for the first time in his IPL career
Virat Kohli celebrates after reaching the three-digit landmark for the first time in his IPL career

This marks the third appearance of Gujarat Lions on this list. Though none of their batsmen could score a 100, they made sure they spoil the centurion’s night. Playing at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, Kohli elected to bat first after winning the toss.

Kohli began his innings on an aggressive note as he smashed Dhawal Kulkarni, Praveen Kumar and Pravin Tambe for boundaries in the power-play overs. Later in the innings, KL Rahul’s support helped the Run Machine increase the scoring rate as he scored his first T20 hundred by taking a single on the last ball of the innings. Kohli’s unbeaten knock ensured RCB finish off with 180-2 in their 20 overs.

Gujarat Lions’ batting order was too good for the RCB bowlers as they chased down the target with 6 wickets in hand. Kohli was adjudged the man of the match, in spite of being on the losing side.

#6 Hashim Amla - 104* (60) vs Mumbai Indians, 20th April 2017

Hashim Amla features for the second time on this list
Hashim Amla features for the second time on this list

Hashim Amla can be regarded as the unluckiest batsman to ever play in the Indian Premier League. He scored two centuries for his team in the same season just to end up on the losing side on both the occasions.

After being put in to bat first after losing the toss, Kings XI Punjab started off on a positive note with Hashim Amla looking in good touch. Amla brought up his first ever IPL hundred by scoring 104* off just 60 balls at a strike rate of 173.33.

KXIP scored 198/4 in their 20 overs, but never would have they imagined Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians would achieve this target in just 15.3 overs. Parthiv Patel, Nitish Rana and Jos Buttler destroyed the Punjab bowling attack as they took their team home with 28 balls to spare.

#5 Wriddhiman Saha - 115* (55) vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 1 June 2014 in the IPL final

Another KXIP batsman to feature on this list
Another KXIP batsman to feature on this list

Wriddhiman Saha stepped up to the occasion and delivered on the grandest night of an IPL season when he led his team Kings XI Punjab to a humongous total of 199 while batting first in the IPL final.

After losing early wickets, youngsters Manan Vohra and Wriddhiman Saha stabilised the innings and what followed was a jaw-breaking turnaround. Despite scoring just 58 in the first 10 overs, the KXIP batsmen scored 141 more in the last 10 to set the Shahrukh Khan-owned franchise a target of 200.

However, Vohra and Saha’s efforts weren’t enough for their team to lift the title as Manish Pandey empowered the Kolkata Knight Riders to seal the target in the last over. This match was one of the most thrilling finals in the history of IPL.

#4 Shane Watson - 101 (58) vs Chennai Super Kings, 22nd April 2013

Shane Watson was the cornerstone of the Rajasthan Royals in the initial seasons of the league
Shane Watson was the cornerstone of the Rajasthan Royals in the initial seasons of the league

Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Rajasthan Royals got off to a perfect start thanks to Shane Watson’s fireworks in the power-play overs. The Australian all-rounder brought up his half-century in just 29 deliveries as Rajasthan seemed to pose a huge challenge to the home team, Chennai Super Kings.

However, the run rate slowed down as the innings progressed as Watto didn’t get support from any of his partners. But that did not stop him as he achieved his first ever three digit score in the IPL. He scored 101 off 58 before departing in the 18th over.

Chasing 186, the Chennai Super Kings were never in trouble as half-centuries from Michael Hussey and Suresh Raina helped them reach the target despite a late outburst by James Faulkner, who picked up 3 wickets in his last spell.

#3 Sachin Tendulkar - 100* (66) vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala, 15th April 2011

This was Sachin's first and only IPL hundred
This was Sachin's first and only IPL hundred

The visiting captain Mahela Jayawardene asked Mumbai Indians to bat first on a flat Wankhede track.

Sachin Tendulkar opened the innings with David Jacobs. The pair raised together an opening stand of 61 runs. Jacobs lost his wicket in the 8th over, but that did not stop the Little Master as he lasted the entire 20 overs to score his first IPL century off the last ball.

Batting on 99*, Sachin dragged a low full toss from Vinay Kumar on the off side to take a single and reach the milestone. Sachin’s knock helped Mumbai Indians reach 182/2 as Ambati Rayudu also chipped in with a vital 53 (33).

However, Mumbai went on to lose the match. Brendon McCullum and Jayawardene played an innings of 81 and 56 respectively to take their team home.

#2 Yusuf Pathan - 100 (37) vs Mumbai Indians, 13th March 2010

Yusuf Pathan is the only player in the 11-year long history of the Indian Premier League to score a century in a losing cause while batting second
Yusuf Pathan is the only player in the 11-year long history of the Indian Premier League to score a century in a losing cause while batting second

In the 2nd match of IPL 2010, Sachin Tendulkar chose to bat first after winning the toss against the Rajasthan Royals.

Half-centuries from Saurabh Tiwary (53) and Ambati Rayudu (55) helped the home team reach a monumental 212/6 at the end of their 20 overs. Chasing 213, Rajasthan Royals got off to a poor start as they lost 4 wickets before the completion of 10 overs.

Yusuf Pathan came to bat when the scoreboard read 40/3. He whacked the Mumbai bowlers from the ball one as he seemed unstoppable on the day. In his 107 run partnership with Paras Dogra, Pathan’s contribution was more than 80%.

He brought up his first IPL century in just 37 balls and unfortunately could not play a ball after that as he was run out on the very next ball. RR batsmen faltered in the end as they lost the run-fest by a small margin of 4 runs.

#1 Andrew Symonds - 117* (53) vs Rajasthan Royals, 24th April 2008

Andrew Symonds holds the record for the first IPL century in a losing cause
Andrew Symonds holds the record for the first IPL century in a losing cause

Batting first after losing the toss, VVS Laxman's Deccan Chargers lost Shahid Afridi, Adam Gilchrist and their skipper's wicket cheaply as Rajasthan Royals dominated the first half of the DC innings.

However, Andrew Symonds blew away the opposition bowling attack by registering his first IPL century. He played an innings of 117* at a mind-boggling strike rate of 220.75 as the Chargers set the Royals a target of 215.

Quick-fire knocks from Graeme Smith (71) and Yusuf Pathan (61) took the Royals close to the target. An unbelievable innings of 22* off 9 from Shane Warne, which comprised 2 fours and 2 sixes, made sure that his team ends up as the winning side. RR won the match with 3 wickets and 1 ball to spare.

Which batsman do you think deserved to be on the winning side after scoring a 100? Share your opinions in the comments box below.

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Edited by Kumud Ranjan
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