IPL 2020: Listing down the first centurion of every IPL team

When BCCI started the IPL in 2008, not many fans would have expected to witness six centuries in the first edition itself. T20 cricket was still new to the world, especially to the Indian cricketers. However, the batsmen wreaked havoc in the tournament right from game number one and till date 57 centuries have been scored in the Indian Premier League.

Kings XI Punjab have produced the most number of centurions over the years with 7 batsmen scoring a hundred for the Mohali-based franchise. On the other side, the batsmen from Royal Challengers Bangalore have hit the maximum centuries in IPL (12). Only three teams, namely Gujarat Lions, Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Pune Warriors India could not produce a centurion in the IPL.

It is noteworthy that the IPL got its first two centurions within 24 hours of the tournament's commencement and here's a look at the first centurion of every IPL team.

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Kolkata Knight Riders - Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum set the tone with a swashbuckling hundred

Former New Zealand captain, Brendon McCullum's name will be etched in golden in IPL history because of the way he played in the opening match of IPL 2008. No one knew what to expect from this new tournament but the right-handed batsman from New Zealand showcased what could happen in the IPL.

Playing against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, McCullum opened the innings for the Shahrukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders. He decimated the opposition bowling lineup with an unbeaten 73-ball 158 as he powered Kolkata to a score of 222 runs. He struck 10 fours and 13 sixes in his innings before the KKR bowlers ensured that the team wins the match by 140 runs.

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Chennai Super Kings - Michael Hussey

Mr. Cricket hit a century on his IPL debut

One of the only two players in IPL history to record a hundred on IPL debut, Michael Hussey starred for Chennai Super Kings in their first IPL match. The Super Kings battled Kings XI Punjab in their campaign opener as MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first. Unfortunately, CSK lost both their openers early.

Hussey came out to bat at number three and he played a fantastic innings of 116 runs. Although Dhoni departed from the other end early, the left-handed batsman from Australia continued to torment the bowlers. He formed good partnerships with Suresh Raina and Jacob Oram during his knock which comprised 8 fours and 9 sixes. Chennai won that match by 33 runs.

Mumbai Indians - Sanath Jayasuriya

Sanath Jayasuriya blew away the Chennai Super Kings at Wankhede Stadium

The explosive opener from Sri Lanka, Sanath Jayasuriya, registered his name in the history books with a superb century against Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2008. Although Mumbai had the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Robin Uthappa in their squad, Jayasuriya emerged as the first ever centurion for the franchise.

The all-rounder achieved this feat against the eventual runners-up of the competition. Half centuries from Subramaniam Badrinath and MS Dhoni had helped CSK set a target of 157 runs for their opponents. Jayasuriya destroyed the bowling attack featuring Albie Morkel, Chamara Kapugedara, Muttiah Muralitharan and Manpreet Gony as he hit 9 fours and 11 sixes in his 48-ball 114 to guide Mumbai home in the 14th over itself.

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Kings XI Punjab - Shaun Marsh

Shaun Marsh won the Orange Cap in IPL 2008

The first Orange Cap winner in IPL history, Shaun Marsh was also the first batsman to score a hundred for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL. Opening the innings for Kings XI in the 56th match of IPL 2008 against Rajasthan Royals, Marsh slammed a 69-ball 115 to help the Mohali-based franchise post a score of 221/3 in 20 overs.

The left-handed batsman hit 11 fours and 7 sixes in his knock. He got proper support from James Hopes and Yuvraj Singh in the batting unit. Neeraj Patel tried his best to save the day for Rajasthan Royals however, his half-century did not prove to be enough for the inaugural IPL champions. Piyush Chawla's 3-wicket haul helped Punjab win that game by 41 runs.

Delhi Daredevils/Capitals - AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers is one of the two players to hit an IPL hundred outside India

Because of the Lok Sabha elections in 2009, the organizers had to shift IPL outside India. BCCI picked South Africa as the hosts of the tournament and the local lad, AB de Villiers made his fans proud with a scintillating performance against the Chennai Super Kings. Playing in Durban, the Delhi Daredevils lost both their opening batsmen in the first two overs.

AB de Villiers then rescued the Delhi-based franchise with an innings of 105 runs. He remained not out till the end as he hit 5 fours and 6 sixes in his 54-ball knock. The South African batsman's hundred helped Delhi win the match by 9 runs.

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Royal Challengers Bangalore - Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey was the first player to record an IPL century

While several big Indian names took part in the first two seasons of IPL, a lesser known batsman named Manish Pandey emerged as the first Indian batsman to touch the triple figures in IPL. Pandey achieved this feat against Deccan Chargers in the final league stage match of IPL 2009.

The right-handed batsman opened the innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore but he lost his partner Jacques Kallis in the second over of the match. Pandey kept calm and aggregated runs. He did not receive enough support from the other end but that did not stop him from becoming the first Indian centurion in IPL history. The Karnataka-based player remained unbeaten at 114 off 73 deliveries as RCB posted a score of 170 runs on the board.

Some fine bowling performances from Anil Kumble and Balachandra Akhil ensured that Pandey's hundred does not go in vain.

Rajasthan Royals - Yusuf Pathan

Yusuf Pathan was the first Indian to score a century in a losing cause

The Baroda-based all-rounder, Yusuf Pathan, was the cornerstone of Rajasthan Royals in the first few seasons of IPL. Donning the Royals jersey in the team's opening match of IPL 2010, Pathan smacked a 37-ball century to take his team near the 213 runs target set by Mumbai Indians. The right-handed batsman smashed 9 boundaries and 8 maximums in that knock.

Pathan's innings had almost done the job for Rajasthan but some magnificent fielding performances from the Mumbai Indians ensured that he and his partner, Paras Dogra lose their wickets via run outs. Ultimately, Mumbai won that match by 4 runs.

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Sunrisers Hyderabad - David Warner

David Warner is the face of Sunrisers Hyderabad

The franchise which took the maximum time to produce a centurion is Sunrisers Hyderabad. Unlike all the other teams present on this list, none of the Orange Army's batsmen could score a hundred in the team's first three seasons. However, David Warner ended that drought on 30th April 2017 with a splendid performance against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Warner opened the innings with Shikhar Dhawan that night in Hyderabad and the duo stitched a partnership of 139 runs for the first wicket. The fact that Dhawan scored only 29 runs in that innings showcases how much Warner dominated the opposition bowlers. He eventually lost his wicket in the 17th over at the individual score of 126 runs. Sunrisers won that match comfortably by 48 runs.