IPL 2017: Batsmen with most 50s in a single season

Gautam Gambhir has had a memorable time with the bat in the IPL
Gautam Gambhir has had a memorable time with the bat in the IPL

Like hundreds in Tests and ODI’s, half-centuries are a celebrated milestone for batsmen in T20s. A well-crafted fifty allows a batsman to have a significant impact on the game and also provides the opportunity for his side to dominate the proceedings.

However getting a half-century is not an easy task as it requires consistent quick scoring and temperament. Hence, scoring a half-century is a good achievement for a batsman in the shortest format of the game.

Interesting reading from this list is that on most occasions, the team whose batsman has topped the list of most fifties ended up in the playoffs. This aspect reveals how crucial it is for a team to have a batsman who can get consistent 50-plus scores.

Here, we take a look at the batsmen who scored the most number of fifties in a single IPL season.


#7 2008 - Shaun Marsh and Gautam Gambhir (5 Fifties)

Marsh has been part of Kings XI Punjab since the start of the IPL
Marsh has been part of Kings XI Punjab since the start of the IPL

Gautam Gambhir was one of India's most consistent batsmen in 2008 and continued his great form in the inaugural IPL season as well. The heavily loaded Delhi Daredevils team found in Gambhir the perfect anchor who could bat steadily as well as aggressively depending on the situation.

Among the overseas players who made headlines in the first IPL was Australia’s Shaun Marsh. A late arrival in the season didn’t stop him from becoming the highest scorer as he notched consistent half centuries. Thanks to his solid batting form, Kings XI stormed into the semi-finals.

#2 2009 - Matthew Hayden and JP Duminy (5 fifties)

PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 20:  Matthew Hayden of Chennai hits out during IPL T20 match between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore at St Georges Cricket Ground on April 20, 2009 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.  (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)
Hayden was phenomenal on the slow South African pitches

On the slow South African pitches, Australia’s Matthew Hayden scored five fifties and showed his class. He used his power with effective batting skills and belted 572 runs to claim the orange cap.

His big scores at the top allowed CSK batsmen to bat freely in the middle overs and the team eventually made it to the semi-finals on the back of the burly Aussie’s impressive hitting.

JP Duminy took full advantage of home conditions and scored vital runs of Mumbai Indians who once again had a difficult season. His five fifties were one of the very few positives for Mumbai Indians in the 2009 season.

#3 2010 - Jacques Kallis (6 fifties)

PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 20:  Jacques Kallis of Bangalore hits out during IPL T20 match between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore at St Georges Cricket Ground on April 20, 2009 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.  (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)
Kallis was invincible in the beginning of the third season.

Kallis kicked off the 2010 season riding high on unbelievable batting form. He remained not out for the first four games and was finally dismissed after amassing a tally of 283 runs in five innings, including three fifties.

His form dipped in the later stages costing him the orange cap and his team a spot in the finals. But he still ended with six-half centuries which was the highest for this edition.

The South African legend’s most memorable performance came against Kings XI Punjab when he steered RCB successfully in a tricky chase of 203 runs. Smashing 89 off just 55 balls, Kallis made the game a one side affair and helped RCB to register a thumping eight-wicket victory.

#4 2011- Subramaniam Badrinath (5 fifties)

Subramaniam Badrinath
Badrinath was an important part of the CSK batting line-up

He may not be the most popular T20 batsman out there, but Subramaniam Badrinath surely knew his role in the team. He was placed in the middle order of CSK to bring solidarity and allow the hard hitters to play their natural game.

The Tamil Nadu batsman did his job effectively and also scored five fifties as well.

Badrinath's score of 71 against Mumbai Indians came when the rest of the CSK batting failed miserably, while his 63 not out against Pune Warriors helped CSK in successfully chasing the target of 142 runs.

#5 2012 - Chris Gayle (7 fifties)

Chris gayle
Gayle is a darling of the crowds in Bangalore

West Indian batsman Chris Gayle smashed whopping 59 sixes in the season and scored 733 runs to demolish all bowling units in the IPL. The flamboyant opener was in beast mode and he finished with the most number of fifties in this season.

He smashed seven fifties and all of them resulted in the victory for his side.

The highlight of this particular season for the big West Indian was his 128 against Delhi Daredevils which had 13 sixes and included a 204-run partnership with Virat Kohli.

#6 2013 - Michael Hussey (6 fifties)

Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians - IPL : News Photo
Hussey was a vital part of CSK’s early successes in the IPL

Michael Hussey continued his staggering batting form in the IPL and scored six fifties for CSK in the 2013 season.

The Australian left-handed batsman scored a vital 86 not out in the second match to register a huge 10 wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab and then carried his bat through the innings against Delhi while scoring a crucial 65.

His knock of 88 against Rajasthan Royals helped Chennai in chasing 185 successfully. Hussey’s biggest contribution came in the qualifiers against Mumbai when he once again carried his bat by scoring 86 runs and enabled CSK to reach finals.

#7 2014, 2015, 2016 - David Warner (6, 7 and 9 fifties respectively)

CRICKET-T20-IPL-IND-HYDERABAD-BANGALORE : News Photo
Warner led his team to the title in 2016

He may be struggling very badly in Asian conditions in the longer format, but David Warner has enjoyed batting in the shorter format of the game, especially in the IPL. For the last three consecutive years, he has scored the most number of half-centuries and has been the key for Hyderabad’s rise in the IPL.

In 2014, he scored 528 runs and was the only positive for the Sunrisers in that season. His six fifties enabled Sunrisers to win important matches at critical stages.

In 2015, he bettered his performance by scoring seven fifties and 562 runs to claim the orange cap. In their last league match, a do-or-die contest against Mumbai, Warner was sent back in the second over and so were Hyderabad’s hopes to reach the qualifiers.

In 2016, when Kohli’s four hundreds made the headlines, Warner quietly notched up nine fifties and inspired Sunrisers to play their best cricket so far. He led from the front through the entire season and lifted the coveted trophy.

The Australian’s best performance from all these years came on the night of the finals against RCB when he scored a quick fire 68 off just 38 balls to set up a memorable victory for his side.

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Edited by Staff Editor