Fastest fifties in the Indian Premier League (IPL)

Nicholas Pooran: 15 balls, Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2023

Nicholas Pooran scored the joint-third quickest IPL fifty when he reached the 50-run mark in just 15 deliveries against RCB earlier this year. Lucknow had a steep target of 213 in front of them at the Chinnaswamy and needed 114 runs in 9.2 overs when Pooran walked out to the middle. He didn’t waste any time before taking apart every bowler who came on to bowl to him. He blazed seven sixes and four fours in a 19-ball knock of 62 at a strike rate of 326.31. His knock eventually helped Lucknow to come out on the winning side in one of the most dramatic finishes of IPL 2023.

Sunil Narine: 15 balls, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2017

Sunil Narine was at the peak of his batting form during 2017-2018, and he made good use of it in a game against RCB that season. Chasing 159 to win at the Chinnaswamy, Chris Lynn and Narine, KKR’s opening pair, came out all guns blazing. They scored more than 100 runs inside the powerplay, with Narine reaching his 50 in just 17 deliveries and Lynn doing so in 21. KKR won the game easily in the end by six wickets and with 29 balls remaining. Narine’s 15-ball fifty was the joint-fastest IPL fifty at that point.

Yusuf Pathan: 15 balls, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL 2014

Yusuf Pathan scored the first 15-ball fifty in IPL history when he took apart the Hyderabad bowlers at the Eden Gardens during a run-chase in IPL 2014. KKR needed 161 to win off their 20 overs and were 55-2 when Pathan walked in at No.4. He hit seven sixes and five fours in a knock of 72 off 22 balls, much to the amazement of the home crowd. From being 78-4 after the 10-over mark, KKR scored the remaining 83 runs in 4.2 overs and finished the chase with 34 balls to spare.

Jake Fraser-McGurk: 15 balls, Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians, IPL 2024

Opening the batting, Fraser-McGurk stormed to a 15-ball half-century, equalling his previous fastest T20 fifty against Sunriser Hyderabad in IPL 2024. He ended with a 27-ball 84, including 11 fours and six sixes, helping Delhi score their highest powerplay score of 92.

Pat Cummins: 14 balls, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians, IPL 2022

Perhaps the most unexpected name on this list, Pat Cummins had a blast when he smoked Mumbai Indians’ bowlers all around the park, including Jasprit Bumrah, in IPL 2022. He ended up scoring the joint-fastest IPL fifty at that point in time. Like the previous entries, this one too came in a run-chase. KKR needed 162 to win, and Cummins walked in at No.7 with 61 runs and 6.5 overs remaining. From a tense situation, Cummins completely turned the tide in KKR’s favour and remained not out on 56 off 15 balls to finish the chase with four overs to spare.

KL Rahul: 14 balls, Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Capitals, IPL 2018

KL Rahul scored a 14-ball fifty in IPL 2018, the then-fastest fifty in IPL history, in a game against Delhi Capitals in Mohali. Chasing 167, Rahul came out to bat with ultra-aggressive intent, scoring 16 runs off the first over. He reached his fifty inside the third over, in the seventeenth ball of the innings. He got out soon after for 51 off 16 balls but had laid the foundation for an easy victory for his team, who ended up chasing the total with six wickets and seven balls to spare.

Yashasvi Jaiswal: 13 balls, Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2023

Yashasvi Jaiswal broke all kinds of records at the Eden Gardens on May 11, 2023. In a run-chase of 150 against Kolkata Knight Riders, he hit two sixes off the first two balls, and scored 26 runs off the first over – the most by any batter in the first over in IPL history. He reached his fifty off just 13 deliveries, becoming the first player to do so in the IPL. He wasn’t done though. Jaiswal carried on and continued his exhibition of strokeplay, finishing the innings not out on 98 off 47 balls, and taking his side to victory with 41 balls remaining.