Swashbuckling batter Virat Kohli has smacked the first century of the ongoing IPL 2024 season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Saturday. However, Kohli notched up his century off 67 deliveries after RCB was put into bat. With this ton, Kohli extended his record tally of IPL tons to eight and an overall nine in his T20 career as well.
However, Virat Kohli leads the list of batters with the most hundreds in IPL history with seven centuries in his career so far as well. The veteran had also recorded two tons last season while amassing 639 runs in 14 matches. However, the knock also marked his highest score against RR in the IPL as well.
While Virat Kohli holds the overall record with eight centuries, his former RCB teammate Chris Gayle stands second with six tons including his 175 against Pune Warriors India, which is also the highest score any batter has scored in a single IPL innings as well. It was also the fastest IPL hundred which came off just 30 balls. David Warner, Shane Watson and KL Rahul have four tons each to their name while AB de Villiers, Sanju Samson and Shubman Gill have three centuries as well.
Players to hit the most centuries in IPL history
| Pos | Player | Team | Matches | Runs | 100s |
| 1. | Virat Kohli | RCB | 242 | 7566 | 8 |
| 2. | Chris Gayle | KKR/RCB/PBKS | 142 | 4965 | 6 |
| 3. | Jos Buttler | MI/RR | 100 | 3258 | 5 |
| 4. | KL Rahul | SRH/RCB/PBKS/LSG | 121 | 4256 | 4 |
| 5. | Shane Watson | RR/RCB/CSK | 145 | 3874 | 4 |
| 6. | David Warner | SRH/DC | 180 | 6545 | 4 |
| 7. | Shubman Gill | KKR/GT | 95 | 2954 | 3 |
| 8. | Sanju Samson | DC/RR | 155 | 3997 | 3 |
| 9. | AB de Villiers | DC/RCB | 184 | 5162 | 3 |
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli’s 100 off 67 balls is the slowest-ever hundred in IPL on Indian soil and it is also the joint-slowest overall, along with Manish Pandey who also took 67 balls for RCB against Deccan Chargers in Centurion in 2009 as well.
Slowest centuries in IPL:
67 balls – Manish Pandey
67 balls – Virat Kohli
66 balls – Sachin Tendulkar
66 balls – Jos Buttler
66 balls – David Warner
64 balls – Kevin Pietersen
Slowest century by an Indian in the IPL history:
Virat Kohli – 67 balls *
Manish Pandey – 67 balls
Sachin Tendulkar – 66 balls
Virat Kohli – 63 balls
KL Rahul – 63 balls
Virat Kohli – 62 balls
Here is how fans reacted to the hundred of Virat Kohli:
The best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be 🐐#KingKohli pic.twitter.com/19EErYruq2
— The Cinéprism (@TheCineprism) April 6, 2024
Virat Kohli’s 100 off 67 balls is the slowest ever hundred in IPL on Indian soil and the joint-slowest overall, equaling Manish Pandey who also took 67 balls for RCB against Deccan Chargers in Centurion in 2009. #IPL
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) April 6, 2024
Virat Kohli has registered the joint slowest hundred in IPL history.
However, if not for his ton, RCB wouldn't have scored even 150 today. If everyone struck at 200 and Kohli bats like that, then you can call him out but not this. pic.twitter.com/1LKIsVj7ZN
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) April 6, 2024
Another record by Virat Kohli in IPL, he registers the slowest century record in IPL now alongside ex RCB player Manish Pandey.
King breaking records for fun.
— Yash (@CSKYash_) April 6, 2024
Slowest Century in IPL
67 balls – Chokli*
67 balls – Manish Pandey pic.twitter.com/0HVmWGH1ag— ً (@Ro45Goat) April 6, 2024
Virat Kohli was playing with a good strike rate when no wicket was down and was taking charge on bowlers and letting Faf gain his form back. Two quick wickets and Virat gone into a shell where he had to play safe and deep bcz other RCB batters were doing nothing
— Sports syncs (@moiz_sports) April 6, 2024
Congratulations Virat kholi on the slowest 💯 in the history of IPL#RRvRCB #IPL2024
— Junaid khan (@JunaidkhanREAL) April 6, 2024
