Top 5 Slowest Centuries In IPL

Virat Kohli celebrating his IPL 2024 century against Rajasthan Royals (BCCI)Virat Kohli celebrating his IPL 2024 century against Rajasthan Royals (BCCI)

Amidst the frenzy of boundaries and sixes within the fast-paced arena of IPL, there are instances where the game demands patience and perseverance. Centuries, the pinnacle of a batsman’s achievement, often arrive in blistering haste. However, there are surfaces and playing conditions where batters have to meticulously construct their innings, defying the norm of rapid-fire run-scoring.

Here at OneCricket, we take a look at five slowest centuries ever recorded in the history of IPL, up until tournament-great Virat Kohli added one to the sluggish roaster after his IPL 2024 knock against Rajasthan Royals.

5 Slowest Centuries In IPL History

5. David Warner (Delhi Capitals) - 66 balls vs KKR, IPL 2010

David Warner celebrating his maiden IPL century back in 2010 (IPL)David Warner celebrating his maiden IPL century back in 2010 (IPL)

IPL heavyweight David Warner, who boasts of a staggering T20 strike-rate of over 140, once had to work his way for a century against KKR back in 2010 at Delhi. Opening the innings for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) alongside Virender Sehwag, Warner listed 107 unbeaten runs off 69 balls, and reached the triple-digits by the 66th delivery of his innings.

The dashing opener launched nine boundaries and five sixes in all, and ended up top-scoring for the Daredevils in their 177-run total upfront. David Warner’s unusual knock turned out to be a match-winning one for his side, as they upstaged KKR by 40 runs in the game.

4. Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals) - 66 balls vs Mumbai Indians, IPL 2022

Jos Buttler made a 66-ball century vs Mumbai Indians in IPL 2022 (BCCI)Jos Buttler made a 66-ball century vs Mumbai Indians in IPL 2022 (BCCI)

Rajasthan Royals opener Jos Buttler bashed four centuries during his ‘Orange Cap’ winning run back in IPL 2022. The cricketer scored the first of those hundreds the slowest, taking 66 deliveries against Mumbai Indians to reach the landmark figure at the DY Patil Stadium.

After losing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal, the senior Englishman led Rajasthan Royals’ recovery with blistering partnerships alongside Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer. While Buttler took 32 balls to score his first 50 runs, he consumed slightly greater time (34 deliveries) to score his next fifty.

Aided by 11 boundaries and five sixes, Jos Buttler reached his hundred off 66 balls and eventually made his way back to the sheds in the death overs with a match-winning 68-ball century to his name.


3. Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai Indians) - 66 balls vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala, IPL 2011

Sachin Tendulkar in action against Kochi Tuskers Kerala in IPL 2011 (AP)Sachin Tendulkar in action against Kochi Tuskers Kerala in IPL 2011 (AP)

The lone IPL century of milestone man Sachin Tendulkar materialized on an uneventful note for Mumbai Indians. Just a couple of weeks after lifting the 2011 World Cup trophy at the Wankhede Stadium, he returned to his home venue, albeit for Mumbai Indians’ IPL clash against the now-defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala side.

Opening the innings with Davy Jacobs and spending much of his time with Ambati Rayudu, Tendulkar made 100 unbeaten runs and reached his milestone figure off the final ball of the innings. His 66-ball century, laced with 12 boundaries and three sixes, came in a losing cause for Mumbai Indians courtesy of a couple of run-chase masterclasses from Brendon McCullum and Mahela Jayawardene later in the game.

At the time, the innings remained the joint-second slowest century in the history of IPL alongside David Warner until Jos Buttler joined the duo in 2022.


2. Manish Pandey (RCB) - 67 balls vs Deccan Chargers, IPL 2009

Manish Pandey in action against Deccan Chargers in IPL 2009 (AP)Manish Pandey in action against Deccan Chargers in IPL 2009 (AP)

Perennial underachiever Manish Pandey attained a significant landmark in IPL 2009 by becoming the first Indian cricketer to score an IPL century, doing so at the age of 19. Opening the innings alongside the great Jacques Kallis against the now-defunct Deccan Chargers unit, Pandey swatted 10 boundaries and four sixes at Centurion in his match-winning 73-ball 114*- run knock.

Notably, the significant occasion also marked an unwanted record in Pandey’s IPL profile. Completing his 100 from 67 balls, the innings continues to remain one of the slowest hundreds ever recorded in IPL history.


1. Virat Kohli (RCB) - 67 balls vs Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2024

Virat Kohli celebrating his century against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024 (BCCI)Virat Kohli celebrating his century against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024 (BCCI)

All-time batting great Virat Kohli recorded his eighth IPL century in the 2024 edition of the tournament at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium. The cricketer reached his hundred off 67 balls in the penultimate over of the innings to level-up with former teammate Manish Pandey in becoming IPL’s slowest centurion.

Kohli, however, picked up the pace in the final over to finish at 113* off 72 balls. With RCB’s entire middle-order crumbling at the death, Virat Kohli’s calculated effort ended up in a losing cause for his team as Rajasthan Royals overhauled their 184-run target with ease.