Fastest half-centuries in IPL

It takes an incredible amount of effort from the batsmen to score a fifty in the T20 format. Scoring at a strike-rate of over 200 is a remarkable achievement in itself, and add to that, facing world-class bowlers which makes it an altogether different proposition.

The Indian Premier League has witnessed many such innings from the batsmen over the past 8 editions and they will certainly be remembered for a long time to come. Here are the top 10 fastest half-centuries in the IPL.

---

1. Yusuf Pathan (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Back in 2011, Kolkata Knight Riders bought the explosive Yusuf Pathan from the Rajasthan Royals for a fee of $2.1 million. Pathan had a mixed first season for the Knight Riders but proved his worth in the games against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The Sunrisers had set a target of 161 for the Knight Riders to beat and they were in trouble when the Knight Riders had lost 2 wickets for just 55 on board. Yusuf Pathan took no time to settle down as he crunched his way to reach the target, hitting 7 massive sixes and 5 fours in the process.

Pathan scored his fifty in just 15 deliveries and holds the record for the fastest fifty in the IPL history.

2. Suresh Raina (Chennai Super Kings)

The stylish left-handed batsmen rose to fame in the first season of IPL while playing for the Chennai Super Kings. The Uttar Pradesh batsman has been the most consistent player in the entire history of IPL as he has not missed a single IPL match till date.

Suresh Raina has also scored the most runs in the IPL with 3951 runs in 141 games played so far. In a match where the Super Kings needed to win by a big margin, the Kings XI Punjab had set a massive target of 227 and Suresh Raina almost made the task look ridiculously simple.

Raina came soon after the first wicket fell and scored his fifty in 16 deliveries hitting 12 fours and 6 sixes before he departed for 87 in just 25 deliveries.

3. Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

The Caribbeans enjoy the T20 format and it is only fitting if the most entertaining player is a part of this list. Chris Gayle set fire to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the 2013 IPL edition where the Royal Challengers were facing off against the Pune Warriors.

Gayle opened the innings for the Royal Challengers and raced to a half-century in 17 deliveries. Gayle ended up scoring the fastest century ever in the IPL and ended his innings with 175 of 66 deliveries. The Royal Challengers thrashed the Pune Warriors, winning by 130 runs.

4. Adam Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers)

Arguably the most aggressive Australian wicket-keeper batsmen of all time, Adam Gilchrist was not far away from scoring the fastest half-century in the IPL history. Back in 2009 when Gilchrist captained the Deccan Chargers Hyderabad, the Chargers faced the Delhi Daredevils in a crunch semi-final game.

The Daredevils had set a modest target of 154 for the Chargers to beat and thanks to Adam Gilchrist, they achieved that in over 2 overs to spare. Gilchrist scored his half-century off 17 deliveries, which was the fastest fifty back then and helped the Deccan Chargers to win their first IPL trophy.

5. Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians)

The West Indian all-rounder has been in the Mumbai colors since 2010 and has never looked back since then. Pollard has always had a reputation of hitting the big sixes and in this year’s IPL edition 2016, he hit the fastest fifty for the Mumbai Indians.

Facing the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium, a target of 175 was set by the Knight Riders and it proved to be a small total after the Caribbean brought his fifty in 17 deliveries including 6 sixes at a strike-rate of 300.

6. Chris Morris (Delhi Daredevils)

In what was probably the most entertaining match of the season between the Gujarat Lions and the Delhi Daredevils, Chris Morris gave it his all for his team. Chasing a target of 173 set by the Lions, Delhi got off to a poor start losing 4 quick wickets and they were struggling to score against the Gujarat bowlers before Chris Morris cut loose.

The South African displayed some clean hitting with the bat as he raced to his fifty in just 17 deliveries and equalling Kieron Pollard for the fastest fifty of the 2016 edition. Morris ended with an unbeaten 82 in 32 deliveries including 8 sixes.

Unfortunately for Delhi, they fell short by 1 run even after Morris’s heroics.

7. Robin Uthappa (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

In 2010 before Uthappa joined the Kolkata Knight Riders, he was an integral part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore and he built his reputation by scoring at an unbelievable rate for the Challengers.

In a match against the Kings XI Punjab, a massive target of 204 was set for the Challengers to beat and Uthappa happened to be in some fine form that day. Scoring his fifty in just 19 deliveries. Uthappa’s knock helped the Challengers to achieve the massive target with 7 balls to spare.

8. Harbhajan Singh (Mumbai Indians)

Not the name anyone would expect to see on this list, but Harbhajan Singh occupies the eighth position for the fastest fifty. In a dramatic match against the Kings XI Punjab in the 2015 edition, the Mumbai Indians had to achieve a target of 178 and they could not have gotten to a worse start after losing 6 wickets for just 59 runs on the board.

With the home fans preparing to leave the stadium, Harbhajan Singh came out and played the knock of his life. He reached his fifty blazing fast in 19 deliveries and game the Indians some hope of reaching the target.

Harbhajan was later dismissed for 64 and received a standing ovation from the Mumbai crowd as they fell short of the target by 18 runs.

9. Owais Shah (Rajasthan Royals)

Back when Rahul Dravid opened for the Rajasthan Royals in 2012, the England International Owais Shah came to bat at the number 4 position for the Royals in a game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Shah reached his fifty in 19 deliveries and game a huge boost to the Royal’s total. Shah scored 60 of just 26 deliveries in the end and the Royals ended with a total of 195. The Royals had comfortably beaten the Challengers by 59 runs.

10. David Miller (Kings XI Punjab)

The Punjab supporters will never forget this incredible innings from David Miller which gave them an impossible victory against the Rajasthan Royals in the 2014 IPL edition.

With a target of 192, Punjab got off to the worst possible start when they lost Virender Sehwag and Wridhiman Saha with 10 runs on the board. In came Miller after Maxwell and Pujara steadied the ship.

Miller scored a brilliant half-century in 19 deliveries and took Punjab to the finish line.

11. Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)

This World cup winner also scored his fifty in 19 deliveries in the 2015 IPL edition. In a game against the Kings XI Punjab, a target of 184 was set for the Knight Riders.

Andre Russell came to bat lower down the order with his side under immense pressure. Russell’s innings included 4 sixes and 5 fours which helped the Knight Riders edge past the Kings XI Punjab.