Indian Premier League (IPL) has been home to one of the most thrilling matches and has witnessed several record-breaking performances. After hosting 17 seasons, the tournament has given a platform to some of the best cricketers around the world to showcase their talents.
Among a long list of unrealistic records, one that stands out as exceptional is the fastest century scored in the history of the championship.
This remarkable feat was achieved by none other than the explosive Caribbean batsman, Christopher Henry Gayle.
Let's dig deep into Gayle’s remarkable knock in which the Windies batter created history - in detail.
The match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Pune Warriors India in IPL 2013 left everyone in awe of Gayle's talent. The Windies batter took the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore by storm as Pune Warriors India invited the hosts to bat first after winning the toss. The visitors’ skipper, unfortunately, had no idea that they were inviting a mayhem in the form of Christopher Henry Gayle.
Chris Gayle and Tillakaratne Dilshan saw the innings through for RCB. Right from the word go, Gayle took the entire responsibility of the innings and bashed the ball all around the park. Not even that short spell of rain could stop Gayle; when he came out to bat again after the rain, Gayle seemed a lot more convincing.
Gayle's Record-Breaking Century
Chris Gayle reached his half-century off just 17 balls, which set the tone for what eventually became one of the greatest innings ever witnessed in T20 cricket. Subsequently, he became the first man in the IPL to strike the fastest century ever in the IPL, reaching the milestone in just 30 balls. His knock was repleted with 8 fours and 11 sixes, leaving opposition bowlers without an answer.
This 30-ball century also breaks the record of the fastest century and sets a new benchmark for the shortest format of the game.
The Universe Boss’ impeccable Power-hitting
Gayle did not stop at 100. He went on to smash the ball to all parts of the ground and his innings went onto a massive 175* off just 66 balls. His mind-boggling performance included 13 fours and 17 sixes. This remains the highest individual score in T20 cricket.
AB de Villiers also contributed a breezy 31 off mere 8 balls as RCB put together an explosive total of 263/5.
Impact with the Ball
Not only with the bat, Gayle also dominated with the ball. He bowled only one over and picked up two wickets giving away just 5 runs. It was the all-round performance by RCB that saw them win the game by a good 130-run margin over Pune Warriors India.
Chris Gayle's 175* in the Indian Premier League 2013 season will be told for time immemorial. Yes, this was the century that will be engraved in the record book as the fastest in IPL history that at the same time revamped the standards of T20 cricket. This innings was totally a reflection of why Chris Gayle is considered the most destructive batsman in the game.
With inputs from agencies
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