Fastest 50s in IPL history

#3 Suresh Raina – Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab , 2014, 16 balls

Raina’s is the second fastest half-century in IPL history

One of the greatest innings in the IPL that came in a losing cause, was this superb knock by Suresh Raina. In the 2014 IPL, the Kings XI Punjab were in terrific form and came into the playoffs as the table toppers. However, they lost the first qualifier to Kolkata Knight Riders at Kolkata and had to defeat Chennai Super Kings in the second qualifier at Mumbai to reach the final.

The Super Kings won the toss and put in Punjab to bat first. A blistering knock of 122 by Virender Sehwag took Punjab to a mammoth total of 226/6 in their 20 overs. In reply, the Super Kings were off to a horrendous start as they lost Faf du Plessis in the very first over.

However, Suresh Raina came in and it began to rain fours and sixes as CSK reached their 100 in only six overs. In the process, the Indian left-hander reached his fifty in16 deliveries to record the second fastest fifty in IPL history.

Disaster struck in the 7th over as Raina was run out by KXIP skipper George Bailey for 87 off just 25 deliveries. Raina’s dismissal triggered a drastic loss of momentum for the CSK as they ended their innings on 202/7, thus being eliminated from the tournament.

Kings XI eventually went on to lose the final to the Kolkata Knight Riders despite the only century in an IPL final by Wriddhiman Saha. Had Suresh Raina not been dismissed, then not only would CSK have reached the final and may have won, but Raina could also have smashed the fastest hundred in IPL history.