10 Slowest IPL Centuries in History Ranked Listicle

The IPL is built for fast scoring, but even in T20 cricket there are innings where a batter battled a tricky surface, held one end and eventually brought up a hundred off 65, 70 or even more balls. These are the ten slowest IPL centuries, or in some cases career-pace IPL hundreds, and the context that explains each of them.

1. Manish Pandey — 73-ball 114*, RCB vs Deccan Chargers, 2009

Manish Pandey became the first Indian to score an IPL century with a 73-ball 114 not out for RCB against Deccan Chargers in May 2009. The pace was slower than modern standards, and the innings was played on a difficult Centurion surface, making the hundred more impressive for the circumstance.

2. Sachin Tendulkar — 66-ball 100*, MI vs KKR, 2011

Sachin Tendulkar's only IPL century came in a winning chase at the Wankhede Stadium in May 2011. The 66-ball 100 not out was built on classical strokeplay rather than slog-heavy T20 hitting, and came at a time when a strike rate of 150 across an innings was considered excellent.

3. Anchor tons on slow surfaces

The next cluster of slowest IPL centuries includes knocks in the 60 to 70 ball range from batters like Mahela Jayawardene, Brendon McCullum's 73-ball 158 was significantly faster but some of his other tons were played at a calmer pace.

4. Gautam Gambhir's slower tons for KKR and DD

Gautam Gambhir has two IPL centuries, both roughly in the 60 to 65 ball range, played as anchors who set the platform for finishers. Neither is on the fastest list, but both were important to setting big totals.

5. Shane Watson's 57-ball 117 was in the middle lane

Shane Watson's IPL 2018 final century for Chennai Super Kings came off 57 balls. That sits in the middle of the pace spectrum, neither extraordinarily fast nor slow. It is a good reference point for what a match-winning final-stage innings looks like.

6. Early-season spin-friendly centuries

A number of early IPL season centuries were played on pitches that turned sharply, slowing the scoring rate. On those surfaces even a 60-ball hundred felt extraordinary because run-rates across the match were below 7 an over.

7. Chepauk-specific slow centuries

Several IPL centuries at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai have been played at sub-150 strike rates, reflecting the traditional Chepauk pitch character. Any batter who makes a century at Chepauk on a typical pitch is doing a significantly harder job than one at the Chinnaswamy.

8. Wankhede spin-dominant centuries

Similarly, there have been IPL matches at the Wankhede where spin gripped and scoring rates dropped. Tons on those nights have generally come at slower rates, and are part of the IPL's slowest-hundred file.

9. Chase centuries that were pace-managed

Some slow IPL centuries were pace-managed chases where the batter did not need to go harder than required. The math of a T20 chase sometimes produces a 70-ball hundred because the target did not demand more.

10. The rarely discussed opener sleep-walks

Occasionally an opener has played out the full 20 overs and reached a hundred off 70 or more balls because the middle order collapsed around them. These innings are mixed in their quality and are a reminder that the pace of a century depends on what else is happening in the match.

FAQ

Q: Who hit the slowest IPL century? A: Manish Pandey's 73-ball 114* for RCB against Deccan Chargers in 2009 is among the slowest IPL centuries on the record books.

Q: Why do slow IPL centuries happen? A: They are usually on challenging pitches, against disciplined attacks, or in chases that do not require aggressive acceleration once set.

Related reading

• 10 Fastest IPL Centuries in History Ranked
• IPL Records Complete History Guide
• 10 Greatest IPL Final Over Comebacks of All Time