IPL 2018: 5 fastest fifties of this season

The league phase of IPL 2018 is over and we have been treated to some extraordinary performances over the course of the season. While some of the big names such as Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir have failed other players have stepped up and taken the limelight.

In terms of batting and big hitting, this has been the most exciting season so far, with a new record for most number of sixes in a season and the most number of sixes in a single IPL match already broken.

Batsmen have made merry at the expense of the bowlers and have racked up some huge scores. A number of fifties have been scored this season, but who among them have managed to do so in the least number of balls?

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#5 Sam Billings (21 balls)

Sam Billings made a sensational start in IPL 2018

Coming in as a replacement for the injured Kedar Jadhav, Sam Billings took the MA Chidambaram Stadium by storm as he smashed his way to a 23-ball 56 inning, which was instrumental in Chennai picking up a win on their return to their home ground after two years.

Coming in at number 5, the Englishman took some time to settle down, but he bided his time when KKR's spinners were in operation, using his feet and nudging the ball into the gaps for ones and twos.

However, as soon as the pace bowlers came into operation, Billings unleashed a plethora of strokes, and smashed the bowlers all around the park. His inning was studded with two fours and five massive sixes.

He brought up his fifty off just 21 balls and announced his arrival on the big stage.

#4 Jos Butler (18 balls)

Butler was in terrific form as an opener for Rajasthan Royals

With many openers in the Rajasthan Royals ranks, including the likes of Rahane, Tripathi, D'Arcy Short, Jos Butler had to make do with a spot in the middle order in the initial stages of the tournament.

However, that changed during the match against Delhi Daredevils when the Royals were set a revised target of 150 runs in just 13 overs due to a rain interruption.

The Royals needed to attack from the word go and hence Butler was promoted to the top of the order. He responded in grand fashion as he hit the Delhi bowlers to all parts of the ground. He brought up his fifty off just 18 balls before finally falling after playing a brilliant innings of 67 from 26 balls which included four fours and seven sixes.

Although Rajasthan lost this match, Butler was back in form and he carried this wonderful form into the next few matches as he struck five consecutive half-centuries in his next five matches.

#3 Sunil Narine (17 balls)

Narine is an explosive batsman at the top of the order

It was in 2017 that Sunil Narine was sent to open the innings for KKR in the absence of regular opener Chris Lynn, and the rest, as they say, is history. A fearless hitter at the top of the order, Narine has provided many explosive starts for KKR in the last two seasons of the IPL.

In KKR's season opener this year, RCB set a stiff target of 177 in 20 overs. However, Narine came out all guns blazing as he smashed his way to a 17-ball fifty which included five boundaries and four hits over the fence.

By the time he fell, KKR had already racked up an impressive 65 runs in just 5.2 overs leaving the middle order with a much less asking rate than what it was at the start of the innings.

#2 Ishan Kishan (17 balls)

Ishan Kishan had a mixed season with the Mumbai Indians

Ishan Kishan was picked up by the Mumbai Indians for a whopping Rs. 6.2 crores in the 2018 IPL auction, and naturally, expectations were high. Although he did not manage to set the stage on fire this IPL, he did make some telling contributions none more so than his stunning innings against KKR at Kolkata.

Coming into bat at 62-2, he changed the complexion of the game in the next five overs as he started to go after the bowlers from ball one. He spared neither spin nor pace, but was particularly severe on Kuldeep Yadav who flighted the ball on more than occasion in the hope of a mishit that never came. He brought up his half-century off just 17 balls to register the second fastest half-century of IPL 2018.

He was finally dismissed by Sunil Narine for a 21-ball 62 which included six sixes and five fours. Mumbai Indians would be hoping for more such performances from this diminutive wicket-keeper batsman, next season.

#1 KL Rahul (14 balls)

KL Rahul was the go-to player for Punjab this season.

KL Rahul has emerged as one of the most talented batsmen from India who is capable of playing in all the three formats of the game. Tall, elegant and graceful he relies on timing rather than power to score his runs in the shortest format of the game.

He started his IPL 2018 season in grand fashion as he blasted the fastest IPL half-century ever in Punjab's opening match of the season against Delhi Daredevils. Chasing a target of 167 runs, Rahul destroyed the Delhi bowling attack as he raced to his fifty off just 14 balls which included four sixes and six fours.

He continued his good form throughout the season as he amassed a total of 659 runs from 14 matches with six half-centuries.