Since its inception in 2008, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed 16 centuries in a losing cause.
It started with Andrew Symonds’ whirlwind 117 not out in 53 balls, for Deccan Chargers against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Hyderabad in the inaugural edition. Since then, 13 others have found themselves on the list, and only two have managed more than one entry against their name.
In the following list, we look at the players with IPL centuries in losing cause.
2: Hashim Amla
IPL 2017 | Kings XI Punjab vs Mumbai Indians at Indore
In an exhibition of superlative stroke-playing, Amla belted a 60-ball 104 not out to help KXIP (now Punjab Kings) to 198/4. He was particularly severe on Lasith Malinga, plundering 51 runs off the 16 balls. With eight fours and six sixes, Amla surprised himself by reaching the Holkar roof, making all of it seem effortless.
It’s a shame that MI chased down the target inside 16 overs, courtesy a hurricane 35-ball 81-run opening stand between Jos Buttler and Parthiv Patel.
IPL 2017: Kings XI Punjab vs Gujarat Lions at Mohali
Later that season, Amla crafted another 60-ball 104 to see KXIP to 189. A sloppy second half saw Punjab find another novel way to lose and hurt their Playoffs chances. They did not qualify in the end, and Amla did not play an IPL match after this.
2: Sanju Samson
IPL 2019 | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals at Hyderabad
Only few Rajasthan Royals (RR) cricketers have justified the ‘Royals’ tag. Living up to the regal legacy of Shane Warne’s grandeur and Rahul Dravid’s class, Samson defines the adjective in his own way. Not many make batting appear as delightful as an on-song Samson. Hyderabad was graced with one such knock in the 2019 edition.
Samson’s unbeaten 102 off 55 balls took RR to 198, but Samson’s finesse was thwarted by David Warner and Jonny Bairstow’s muscles as the opening duo put up 110 off 58 balls.
IPL 2021 | Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals at Mumbai
Into the first week of this year’s edition, Samson played one of the finest IPL knocks to almost pull off an unthinkable chase. The target of 222 looked steeper when they lost Ben Stokes for a duck in the first over, and the other opener Manan Vohra fell on 25 in the fourth over.
Samson smashed a 63-ball 119, a lone hand to almost see RR through. With five required off two balls, he turned down a single to Chris Morris. He found Deepak Hooda in the outfield in an attempt to smash a six off the final ball.
Other batters with one IPL century each in losing cause
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Andrew Symonds (Deccan Chargers) vs Rajasthan Royals: 102 (55)* | IPL 2008
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Yusuf Pathan (Rajasthan Royals) vs Mumbai Indians: 100 (37) | IPL 2010 - Almost a lone hand, Yusuf’s century was the then fastest in the tournament. Eleven-and-half years later, it still stands as the second-fastest century in IPL history.
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Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai Indians) vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala: 100 (66)* | IPL 2011 - This remains Tendulkar’s only T20 hundred.
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Shane Watson (Rajasthan Royals) vs Chennai Super Kings: 101 (61) | IPL 2013
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Wriddhiman Saha (Kings XI Punjab) vs Kolkata Knight Riders: 115 (55)* | IPL 2014 - This remained the only century in IPL finals until Shane Watson scored another in the 2018 final. However, Saha remains the only Indian to this feat.
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Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore) vs Gujarat Lions: 100 (63)* | IPL 2016
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Steven Smith (Rising Pune Supergiant) vs Gujarat Lions: 101 (54) | IPL 2016
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Rishabh Pant (Delhi Daredevils) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: 128 (63)* | IPL 2018 - The knock can be defined as one of the finest in IPL history. Pant championed a bowling attack comprising Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, Shakib Al Hasan, Siddarth Kaul and Rashid Khan, scoring almost 70% of the team runs. The next best score for Delhi was Harshal Patel’s 24.
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K.L. Rahul (Kings XI Punjab) vs Mumbai Indians: 100 (64)* | IPL 2019 - This was Rahul’s maiden hundred in the IPL.
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Ajinkya Rahane (Rajasthan Royals) vs Delhi Capitals: 105 (63)* | IPL 2019
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Mayank Agarwal (Kings XI Punjab) vs Rajasthan Royals: 106 (50) | IPL 2020 - After Yusuf, Agarwal’s century is the fastest by an Indian in the IPL. The match is best remembered for the Rahul Tewatia finish, where he hit Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over.
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Shikhar Dhawan (Delhi Capitals) vs Kings XI Punjab: 106 (61)* | IPL 2020