Top 5 youngest players to hit a century in the IPL ft. Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Top 5 youngest players to hit a century in the IPL ft. Vaibhav Suryavanshi

In the high-octane world of the Indian Premier League (IPL), where international stars clash in dazzling displays of cricketing fireworks, few moments resonate more powerfully than a youngster rising from obscurity to dominate seasoned bowlers. Amidst the glitter, pressure, and noise of packed stadiums, the sight of a teenager or a fresh-faced twenty-something fearlessly carving out a century is both rare and remarkable.

T20 cricket, by its very design, isn’t a format that easily allows for centuries. The time is short, the risks are high, and the margin for error is microscopic. But when it happens—especially from the blade of a young player—it becomes a story for the ages. These knocks become more than just numbers on a scoreboard; they become milestones, cultural moments, and symbols of potential greatness.

Let’s relive five such iconic innings by the youngest centurions in IPL history—each one a testament to talent, temperament, and the triumph of youth.

1. Vaibhav Suryavanshi – The Teenage Prodigy Who Stunned the Titans

Age: 14 years, 32 days
Team: Rajasthan Royals
Opponent: Gujarat Titans
Venue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium
Score: 100 off 35 balls (7 fours, 11 sixes)

Cricket witnessed a watershed moment when a 14-year-old schoolboy from Bihar lit up the Sawai Mansingh Stadium with an innings for the ages. On an electric evening in Jaipur, Vaibhav Suryavanshi not only announced himself but shook the very foundation of the IPL’s talent pipeline.

Facing a world-class Gujarat Titans bowling unit, which included Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, and Spencer Johnson, the unthinkable unfolded. Batting with flair and fearlessness far beyond his years, Vaibhav raced to a century in just 35 balls, becoming the youngest-ever centurion in IPL history—and the second-fastest overall, only behind the Universe Boss, Chris Gayle.

Every six that soared into the stands felt like a statement. Every boundary, a declaration of dreams fulfilled. What stood out wasn’t just his timing or his technique—but the unshakable confidence in the face of elite competition. Cricketing legends across the globe hailed it as the dawn of a new era.

“This boy is something else,” said Sanju Samson, RR’s captain. “He’s not just playing cricket, he’s rewriting what we thought was possible at this level.”

It was a century that didn’t just break records; it captured hearts and imagination across India.

2. Manish Pandey – The Trailblazer

Age: 19 years, 253 days
Team: Royal Challengers Bangalore
Opponent: Deccan Chargers
Venue: Centurion, South Africa
Score: 114* off 73 balls (10 fours, 4 sixes)

Back in 2009, the IPL was still a fresh phenomenon, yet to fully bloom into the global behemoth it is today. That year, a relatively unknown teenager named Manish Pandey carved his name into history by becoming the first Indian to score a century in the IPL.

On a chilly night in Centurion, South Africa, Pandey’s bat produced poetry in motion. He remained unbeaten on 114 off 73 balls, guiding Royal Challengers Bangalore to a crucial victory over Deccan Chargers.

What made this innings memorable wasn’t just the runs, but the maturity. Pandey mixed caution with aggression, reading the bowlers with a calmness rare for a 19-year-old. With his ton, he not only helped RCB qualify for the semifinals but also inspired a generation of young cricketers to believe that even Indian batsmen could dominate T20 cricket.

Though his career has since seen ups and downs, with over 3,800 IPL runs at a modest strike rate of 121, this century remains a glorious reminder of his early potential.

3. Rishabh Pant – The Daredevil’s Dhamaka

Age: 20 years, 218 days
Team: Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals)
Opponent: Sunrisers Hyderabad
Venue: Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Score: 128* off 63 balls (15 fours, 7 sixes)

Seven years ago, in what was then a struggling Delhi Daredevils outfit, Rishabh Pant delivered an innings that sent shockwaves across the cricketing universe.

Pant walked in with Delhi reeling and facing a formidable Sunrisers Hyderabad attack boasting the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rashid Khan. What followed was a batting carnage—a 128 not out off just 63 balls, decorated with 15 fours and 7 towering sixes.

It wasn’t just the score; it was the audacity. Pant reverse-scooped Bhuvneshwar for six, danced down to Rashid Khan, and made mincemeat of pace and spin alike. It was an inning born out of instinct, courage, and unshackled expression.

Though Delhi eventually lost the match, Pant’s innings turned him from an exciting talent into a national sensation overnight. That knock became the foundation upon which he built his international career and subsequent captaincy of LSG.

In 2025, as Pant battles form and fitness, that thunderous hundred reminds us of the blazing genius that lies within.

4. Devdutt Padikkal – The Graceful Enforcer

Age: 20 years, 289 days
Team: Royal Challengers Bangalore
Opponent: Rajasthan Royals
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Score: 101* off 52 balls (11 fours, 6 sixes)

Elegant, poised, and piercingly effective—that’s how one would describe Devdutt Padikkal’s maiden IPL century in 2021. Facing Rajasthan Royals at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, the southpaw constructed a masterful unbeaten 101 off 52 balls, leading RCB to a ten-wicket win.

What elevated this innings wasn’t just the score but the authority with which it was achieved. Alongside Virat Kohli, Padikkal made the run-chase look like a net session. His timing was sublime, and his strokeplay had a Rohit-esque elegance.

This innings firmly cemented Padikkal as RCB’s batting pillar of the future. He showcased a rare ability to control the tempo—anchoring the innings when needed and accelerating with surgical precision. It marked the arrival of a thinking batsman who could also dominate T20 cricket on his own terms.

5. Yashasvi Jaiswal – From Maidans to Marvels

Age: 21 years, 123 days
Team: Rajasthan Royals
Opponent: Mumbai Indians
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Score: 124 off 62 balls (16 fours, 8 sixes)

There are few stories in Indian cricket as inspiring as that of Yashasvi Jaiswal. From selling pani puri to buying bowlers in bulk, his journey is already folklore.

Facing his home franchise Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede in 2023, Jaiswal delivered a thunderous 124 off 62 balls, studded with 16 boundaries and 8 sixes. The innings was aggressive, calculated, and radiant with confidence. RR posted 212/7 on the board, but the night belonged to the boy who once slept in tents near Azad Maidan.

While RR couldn’t defend the target, Jaiswal’s hundred turned heads worldwide. It was his first of two IPL centuries so far, and it signaled a future Indian cricket star in full bloom. With over 2000 IPL runs at a strike rate of 152, Jaiswal is now a mainstay in both franchise and international cricket.

“He hits like Sehwag and flows like Gower,” remarked a commentator. Few analogies do justice to the unique brand of strokeplay Yashasvi offers.

 When Youth Roars, Cricket Listens

Each of these five centuries, while different in execution, shares a common heartbeat—fearlessness. Whether it’s a teenager from Bihar announcing himself to the world, or a boy from Mumbai’s maidans bringing world-class bowlers to their knees, these innings are reminders that cricket, like life, often reserves its magic for those who dare young.

As the IPL continues to evolve, blending entertainment with elite sport, its most heartwarming offering remains this: the platform it gives to the dreamers. The teenagers. The underdogs. The ones with stars in their eyes and centuries in their bats.

So the next time a young face walks out to bat, remember—records may tumble, teams may win or lose, but somewhere, history might just be in the making.

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