IPL 2017: 5 players with centuries for multiple IPL teams

The IPL is 10 years young and growing bigger and better with every passing edition. While the T20 format was in its early years when the IPL began in 2008, the shortest format of the game is now an integral part of every bilateral series with the time-friendly nature of the format making it an instant crowd puller.

While it is often demanded that the game of cricket be an equal contest between bat and ball, the spectators would surely love the matches to be high-scoring ones which go right down to the wire. It would present a win-win situation for the fans as well as the broadcasters who would understandably want a good return on their spending.

Extra Cover: IPL 2017: Top 5 fastest centuries in IPL history

So it is no wonder that the boundaries are being pulled in, making life a lot easier for the batsmen with even miscued shots crossing the ropes at times. We have also seen an increase in the number of centuries being scored with every passing edition with David Warner’s century against Kolkata Knight Riders being the 44^th 100+ plus score in IPL history.

With that knock, the Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper became only the fifth batsman to score IPL centuries for two different franchises. Let’s take a look at this illustrious list which features only one Indian cricketer. It is interesting to note that all of the ten knocks have resulted in their team emerging victorious on the day which further emphasises how important a T20 century can be.

#1 Adam Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers and Kings XI Punjab)

Gilchrist led Deccan Chargers to IPL glory in 2009 before moving to Kings XI Punjab in 2011

Gilchrist redefined the role of the wicketkeeper-batsman in the modern game and the Australian was someone who was tailor-made for the T20 format. Someone who liked to take the attack to the opposition, Gilchrist was one of the earliest IPL centurions, scoring a hundred for Deccan Chargers against Mumbai Indians in the opening edition of the T20 tournament.

Having been set a target of 155 by Mumbai, Gilchrist made light work of the run chase with some breathtaking batting. He brought up his century off just 42 balls and remained unbeaten on 109 as Deccan Chargers won the match with 10 wickets in hand and eight overs to spare.

Gilchrist led Deccan to the IPL title in 2009 but left for Kings XI Punjab at the end of the following season where he was an instant hit with the fans and players. He made an immediate impact in his first season (2011) scoring an unbeaten 55-ball 106 against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Dharamsala helping Punjab to a mammoth total of 232 batting first.

They went on to win the match by a margin of 111 runs with Gilchrist, as expected, picking up the Man of the Match award.

Team	Opposition	Date	Runs	Balls	SR	Venue	Result
Deccan Chargers	Mumbai Indians	27 April 2008	109*	47	231.91	Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai	Deccan Chargers won by 10 wickets
Kings XI Punjab	Royal Challengers Bangalore	17 May 2011	106	55	192.72	HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala	Kings XI Punjab won by 111 runs

#2 Virender Sehwag (Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab)

Sehwag started his IPL career with Delhi Daredevils before moving on to Kings XI Punjab

Another player who approached the game much like Gilchrist did was India’s very own Virender Sehwag who loved to toy with the opposition. Despite obvious flaws in his batting technique, Sehwag managed to take the opposition bowlers for a ride with utter disdain.

Despite his appetite for risk-taking, Sehwag used to score big as his two triple centuries in Test cricket indicate, and things were no different in the IPL. The 1^st IPL hundred from the Nawab of Najafgarh did take time though – the 2011 edition to be precise – as he mauled the Deccan Chargers bowlers all around the Feroz Shah Kotla on May 5, 2011.

The away side might have been harbouring thoughts of a victory after scoring 175 runs in their allotted 20 overs, but their hopes quickly evaporated as Sehwag got into his groove helping Delhi win the game with one over to spare.

Sehwag’s second IPL century came during the 2014 edition and it was a very special knock considering the fact that he had been struggling all season long, but he rose to the occasion when it mattered the most.

His 58-ball 122 against Chennai Super Kings in the 2^nd Qualifier helped surpass IPL’s most successful side in a high-scoring thriller and cemented his status as one of the game’s modern greats.

Team	Opposition	Date	Runs	Balls	SR	Venue	Result
Delhi Daredevils	Deccan Chargers	5 May 2011	119	56	212.50	Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Uppal	Delhi Daredevils won by 4 wickets
Kings XI Punjab	Chennai Super Kings	30 May 2014	122	58	210.34	Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai	Kings XI won by 24 runs

#3 AB de Villiers (Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore)

De Villiers is one of the biggest entertainers in the IPL with his wide array of shots

De Villiers may not be prolific for South Africa in T20 cricket but the 33-year-old has established himself as one of the best batsmen in IPL history with his mindblowing performances over the years.

He has established himself as a fan-favourite for RCB but before moving down south, the South African spent three years at Delhi Daredevils in the first three editions of the IPL. The 2009 edition being held in South Africa did give a big advantage to de Villiers and he prospered, scoring 465 runs in 15 matches at an average of above 50.

Deciding to bat after winning the toss, Delhi lost both Sehwag and Gambhir cheaply only for de Villiers to not just rescue his side but propel them to a position of immense strength in the match against Chennai Super Kings at Kingsmead, Durban. Along with Tillakaratne Dilshan, who scored 50, the South African, with his 54-ball 105, helped Delhi score 189 runs, a match they eventually went on to win by 9 runs.

De Villiers’ next IPL ton came for RCB during the 2015 edition when he joined hands with his skipper Virat Kohli to tear apart the Mumbai Indians bowling attack in front of their own fans. De Villiers went on an absolute rampage that day at the Wankhede finishing undefeated at 133 runs off just 59 balls. RCB put up 235 runs on the board and won the match by 39 runs.

Team	Opposition	Date	Runs	Balls	SR	Venue	Result
Delhi Daredevils	Chennai Super Kings	23 April 2009	105	54	194.44	Kingsmead, Durban	Delhi Daredevils won by 9 runs
Royal Challengers Bangalore	Mumbai Indians	10 May 2015	133*	59	225.42	Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai	Royal Challengers won by 39 runs

#4 Brendon McCullum (Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings)

McCullum gave the IPL a rocking start with his 73-ball 158 against RCB in the very first game

The New Zealand legend’s name will be forever etched in the history of the IPL as someone who put the T20 tournament on the global map in its very first game. The fireworks that lit up the M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the inauguration ceremony sure took a backseat as shots flew from McCullum’s bat to each and every corner of the ground.

RCB could only sit and watch as there was very little they could do to prevent the kind of onslaught that was on display. To this day, McCullum’s 73-ball 158 remains one of the most iconic knocks in IPL history and it will remain so until the very end.

McCullum didn’t have many days like that though at KKR, either as a batsman or as the skipper, in the following season, before he was picked up by Chennai Super Kings ahead of the 2011 edition. He enjoyed a highly successful time with the MS Dhoni-led franchise and also brought up his 2nd IPL century when he smashed 100 off 56 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Die-hard fans of the IPL and CSK will remember the manner in which McCullum powered his way to the three-figure mark when it looked like he could well miss out. He smashed fellow countryman Trent Boult for a six, followed by a boundary and brought up three figures off the final ball of the innings with a tight single.

Team	Opposition	Date	Runs	Balls	SR	Venue	Result
Kolkata Knight Riders	Royal Challengers Bangalore	18 April 2008	158*	73	216.43	M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore	Kolkata Knight Riders won by 140 runs
Chennai Super Kings	Sunrisers Hyderabad	11 April 2015	100*	56	178.57	MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai	Chennai Super Kings won by 45 runs

#5 David Warner (Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Warner inspired Sunrisers Hyderabad to IPL glory in 2016

Warner has been truly inspirational as a skipper for the Sunrisers Hyderabad leading from the front with many fantastic performances. However, the Australian opener started out his IPL career with Delhi Daredevils during the 2009 edition.

His first IPL century came the following season as he smashed 107 off 69 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Feroz Shah Kotla, leading his side to a 40-run victory. Warner’s second IPL ton was against SRH’s predecessor – Deccan Chargers – scoring a 54-ball 109, helping his side chase down a target of 188 with more than three overs to spare.

That knock came during the 2012 edition and after one more season in India’s capital city, the Australian moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad where he has truly belonged, especially since taking over the captaincy. He almost single-handedly won them the title during the 2016 edition with nine 50+ overs but the one thing that was missing was a score in excess of 100.

With the 2017 edition at the halfway point, Warner has continued from where he left off and on Sunday, against a Kolkata Knight Riders side in prime form, he got that elusive century for SRH reaching three figures off just 43 balls. He was eventually dismissed after scoring 126 off 59 balls and Sunrisers Hyderabad eventually won the contest by a margin of 48 runs.

Team	Opposition	Date	Runs	Balls	SR	Venue	Result
Delhi Daredevils	Kolkata Knight Riders	29 March 2010	107	69	155.07	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi	Delhi Daredevils won by 40 runs
Sunrisers Hyderabad	Kolkata Knight Riders	30 April 2017	126	59	213.55	Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Uppal	Sunrisers Hyderabad won by 48 runs