Top 5 Players With Most IPL Centuries In Losing Cause

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has always been a theater of the unexpected — a format where fortunes change in a matter of overs, and individual brilliance often dazzles brighter than team performances. But in the adrenaline-pumping spectacle that is the IPL, not every heroic innings ends in celebration.

There exists a lesser-celebrated list in IPL history: players who have scored centuries, the holy grail of individual T20 brilliance, yet ended up on the losing side. As of May 18, 2025, five such players have stood out for their repeated brilliance under pressure — only to be left heartbroken. Here’s a closer look at the players who have scored multiple IPL centuries in a losing cause, and the tales behind their unfulfilled masterpieces.

1. Virat Kohli – The Unluckiest Trailblazer (3 Centuries in Defeat)

When Virat Kohli takes the crease for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, passion, intensity, and a relentless hunger for runs follow. Yet, for all his staggering records, Kohli also carries an unenviable distinction — the only player to have lost three IPL matches despite scoring a century.

🔥 2016 vs Gujarat Lions

A season where Kohli was rewriting history with 973 runs, the match against Gujarat Lions was another personal triumph. His 100+ knock was scintillating, filled with drives and flicks oozing authority. But RCB’s bowlers crumbled, leaking runs under pressure and gifting Gujarat the chase.

💔 2023 vs Gujarat Titans

Years later, Kohli delivered another gem — a masterful century under pressure. But RCB’s middle-order collapsed around him, and the Titans clinched the match with a disciplined chase.

🧩 2024 vs Rajasthan Royals

This one stung the most. Kohli carried his bat for an unbeaten 113 off 72 balls, playing a near-perfect anchoring role. But murmurs grew louder around his strike rate. Critics questioned whether a more aggressive approach might have turned the tide. RCB fell short, and Kohli’s sparkling ton became a footnote in another painful chapter.

“Kohli’s centuries in defeats aren’t just stats — they are emotional epics, each marked by what-ifs and near misses.”

These losses reflect not Kohli’s shortcomings but RCB’s historic inconsistency — an inability to match elite batting with reliable bowling depth.

2. Hashim Amla – Pure Class, No Reward (2 Centuries in Defeat)

Few batters have exuded the calm elegance of Hashim Amla. The South African legend graced IPL 2017 with his timeless technique for Kings XI Punjab, producing two centuries that were poetry in motion — but ultimately in vain.

🎯 104 vs Mumbai Indians (2017)*

In a run-fest, Amla’s unbeaten ton was a showcase of textbook batting — deft touches, precise placements, and not a single slog. Yet, Mumbai Indians’ depth in chasing large totals proved too much. His artistry was overshadowed by the power-hitting onslaught from the opposition.

🎯 104 vs Gujarat Lions (2017)

Lightning struck twice. Amla again pierced gaps with surgical precision. But Punjab’s bowling was toothless, and Gujarat ran down the target with overs to spare.

“Amla made batting look effortless. But T20 cricket, in its cruelest form, doesn’t always reward elegance — especially without bowling backup.”

While Amla’s IPL stay was brief, his two centuries remain a lesson in classical strokeplay — untainted even in defeat.

3. KL Rahul – Consistency Amidst Chaos (2 Centuries in Defeat)

KL Rahul has arguably been the most consistent IPL batter over the past five seasons. His ability to adapt — whether for Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, or now Delhi Capitals — is exceptional. Yet, even Rahul has faced the sting of unreciprocated excellence.

🏏 100 vs Mumbai Indians (2019) – Punjab Kings*

His first IPL ton in defeat came in a pulsating match against Mumbai. Rahul’s 100 was a composed, calculated knock*, filled with elegant lofts and drives. But the opposition, backed by a stacked batting lineup, chased the total comfortably.

🔥 112 vs Gujarat Titans (2025) – Delhi Capitals

His most recent heartbreak was perhaps his best. A brutal 112 off 65 balls, laced with authority and intent, lifted Delhi Capitals to a challenging total. Yet Gujarat Titans, led by a rampaging Shubman Gill, chased it down without losing a wicket — a historic chase that left Rahul’s brilliance in the shadows.

“Rahul’s centuries in defeat reveal the double-edged sword of T20 batting — score big, but it still might not be enough without collective execution.”

Rahul’s stoic, sometimes conservative approach often divides opinion. But when he turns on the aggression, he’s near-unstoppable — even if victory doesn’t always follow.

4. Ruturaj Gaikwad – The Elegant Next Gen (2 Centuries in Defeat)

From anchoring innings to explosive starts, Ruturaj Gaikwad has swiftly risen as Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) crown jewel. Yet, he too has had his centuries go unrewarded.

🌟 101 vs Rajasthan Royals (2021)*

This was the night Ruturaj announced himself. A graceful unbeaten century, filled with classical cover drives and deft placements, should’ve been a match-winner. But CSK’s bowlers couldn’t hold back Rajasthan’s counter-attack.

⚡ 108 vs Lucknow Super Giants (2024)*

His second ton was even more impressive — a whirlwind of precise aggression. Yet, again, CSK faltered while defending the total, exposing the frailty of even the most disciplined strategies when bowlers miss their mark.

“Ruturaj doesn’t just score runs; he crafts them. But T20 isn’t always about poetry — sometimes, it’s about the punch.”

These knocks are evidence of Gaikwad’s maturity and temperament — signs that he may soon be among the game’s greatest openers. But he’ll hope that future centuries don’t end in silence.

5. Sanju Samson – Flamboyant and Unlucky (2 Centuries in Defeat)

Sanju Samson is an enigma — flamboyant, fierce, and frustratingly inconsistent. When he fires, few are more aesthetically pleasing. But even his finest knocks have brought tears rather than cheers.

🎭 102 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (2019)*

A sublime innings where Samson was in total control — sweeping spinners, driving pacers, flicking boundaries. Yet SRH, ever the chasers, pulled it off with ease.

🎢 119 vs Punjab Kings (2021)

Arguably Samson’s most iconic IPL innings. He single-handedly carried Rajasthan Royals in a massive chase. With 5 needed off 2, he declined a single to retain strike — but was caught off the last ball. A heartbreaking end to a heroic 119.

“Sanju Samson’s centuries are filled with flair and drama — often with a twist ending that leaves fans gasping.”

Samson’s issue has never been talent, but consistency. Yet when the stars align, his bat sings. Sadly, in these two innings, the chorus didn’t bring a win.

When Glory Isn’t Enough

The five players above represent different eras and styles of IPL cricket. From Kohli’s fiery aggression to Amla’s tranquility, from Rahul’s technical mastery to Gaikwad and Samson’s elegant dynamism — each century carried the weight of a team, the hopes of fans, and the promise of victory.

But cricket, especially T20, doesn’t follow scripts.

These centuries, despite being individual gems, serve as a poignant reminder: T20 is a team game. It demands synergy — between bat and ball, aggression and patience, stars and support players. Even the brightest century can be dimmed by one bad over, one dropped catch, or a misfiring bowling unit.

As IPL 2025 progresses, and new heroes rise, we’ll see more spectacular innings. Some will end in triumph. Others — like those above — will become legendary despite ending in heartbreak.

Because in the IPL, sometimes the most memorable innings are the ones that didn’t win the match… but won our hearts.

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