IPL 2021: 5 Batsmen Who Scored Fastest Half-Centuries In The Tournament

IPL 2021 dates have arrived and BCCI is all set to conduct the cricket tournament in April and May this year. The tournament will commence on April 9, 2021, with the first game between reigning champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. The match will be played at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. While Mumbai Indians is led by Rohit Sharma, Royal Challengers Bangalore is led by Virat Kohli in IPL 2021.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, BCCI has taken several measures to ensure the safety of players. Only six venues will host the tournament in IPL 2021. These are Ahmadabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, and Kolkata. Teams will travel only 3 times during the group stages.

Spectators will not be allowed inside the stadium during the initial games. During a later stage of the tournament, BCCI will take a decision on allowing spectators in the stadium.

Indian Premier League witnesses many batsmen hitting quick knocks during the matches. The powerplay and the death overs often observe batsmen hitting fours and sixes to raise the team’s run-rate.

Many players have played such quickfire knocks in the past, reaching their half-centuries in just a few deliveries. Here we look at 5 players who have hit the fastest half-centuries in the Indian Premier League.

IPL 2021: 5 Batsmen With Fastest Half-Centuries In The Tournament

5. Chris Gayle- 17 balls

Chris Gayle has hit the 5th fastest half-century in the Indian Premier League. While playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, the West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle took just 17 deliveries to smash a fifty in IPL 2013 in a match against Pune Warriors.

The match was played at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Gayle went on to score unbeaten 175 runs in that innings. He hit 17 sixes and 13 fours in the match. There are seven other players who have also hit a half-century in exact 17 balls in IPL, but Gayle hit most runs during his innings.

4. Suresh Raina- 16 balls

Suresh Raina once hit a half-century in just 16 deliveries which stand as the 4th fastest fifty in IPL so far. The left-handed batsman Raina played this quickfire knock against Kings XI Punjab (Punjab Kings) in IPL 2014. The match was played at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. While playing for Chennai Super Kings, Raina went on to score 87 runs in the match, hitting 6 sixes and 12 boundaries in the process.

3. Sunil Narine- 15 balls

West Indies all-rounder Sunil Narine holds the record for the 3rd fastest half-century in Indian Premier League. The Kolkata Knight Riders’ player hit a fifty off just 15 deliveries in IPL 2017. The match was played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Narine went on to score 54 runs in that innings with 4 sixes and 6 boundaries.

2. Yusuf Pathan- 15 balls

Yusuf Pathan also hit a half-century in 15 balls during a match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in IPL 2014. Pathan was playing for Kolkata Knight Riders and he hit the blistering knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad. After reaching his fifty in just 15 balls, right-handed batsman Yusuf Pathan went on to score 72 runs in that match. He hit 7 sixes and 5 boundaries during his magnificent innings.

1.  KL Rahul – 14 balls

Indian cricketer KL Rahul smashed the fastest half-century in IPL off just 14 balls while playing for his team Punjab Kings in IPL 2018. The match was played against Delhi Capitals at IS Bindra Stadium in Punjab. The right-handed batsman Rahul scored 51 runs in the match along with 4 sixes and 6 boundaries.