Travis Head brought up the fourth-fastest Indian Premier League hundred, off just 39 balls, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru today (April 25).

Head, brought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 6.8 crore in the 2024 auction, had a blistering start to the season, scoring 62 in just 24 balls in the first game, before tapering away slightly with scores of 19, 31 and 21 in the next three innings. He roared back to form against RCB in Bengaluru on Monday, smashing his career-best T20 score of 102 that came in 41 balls.

Opening the innings against Bengaluru, Head was 16 off 11 at one point before he got into a rhythm with two successive sixes against Lockie Ferguson in the fifth over of the innings. Head raced away to his fifty in 21 deliveries and needed only 18 more balls for his next half-century, hitting three sixes and six fours between the two milestones. He celebrated in a typical Chris Gayle manner, balancing his helmet on the bat’s handle.

He eventually brought up his hundred in the 12 over of the innings with a four off Vijaykumar Vyshak to continue his stellar form that started with a hundred in the World Test Championship against India and continued in the ODI World Cup final, where he made another ton against the hosts India.

Fourth-fastest ever

Head’s hundred came in 39 deliveries, making it the fourth-fastest in the league, behind Gayle (30 balls), Yusuf Pathan (37) and David Miller (38), and the fastest since 2013. It was also Head’s second T20 ton, with his first hundred, a knock of 101 coming for Adelaide Strikers against Sydney Sixers in 2015.

Head’s knock contained nine fours and eight sixes and came at a strike rate of 248.78. His knock helped SRH reach 199-2 in 15 overs.

Like he’s done from his junior cricket days, Travis Head breaks games & blows away bowling attacks. Regardless of what colour jersey he’s donning or what the colour of the ball is #IPL2024 #RCBvSRH pic.twitter.com/CHzP0x1YST

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) April 15, 2024

This is just insanity from Travis Head.
Wouldn’t be surprised if #SRH cross their own 277.

— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) April 15, 2024

Travis Head you beauty!! 🔥 What a phenomenal 💯

— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) April 15, 2024

For Travis Head, the only question today is whether to hit a boundary on the off side or the leg side.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 15, 2024