Exclusive: Fastest Fifty in Each IPL Season (2008 to 2023)

Yashasvi Jaiswal, the standout as we look at the fastest fifty scored by a player in each IPL season (2008-2023).

The Indian Premier League has given us countless memories to reminisce upon. Of all the memories of IPL, and the relevance of a T20 format, if there’s one such memory that stays forever in our mind, it is the batter scoring at an extraordinary strike rate during his knock.

One such indicator of that is the fastest fifty scored by a player. When Yashasvi Jaiswal hit the fastest fifty in the history of IPL vs KKR, it became an overnight sensation. But how about we find out the fastest fifty scored in each season of IPL? Well, let’s find out the same from 2008 to 2023. 

Fastest Fifty in Each IPL Season (2008-2023)

2008 – Yusuf Pathan vs DC – 21 balls

Final Score: 61(28) // 4s: 4 // 6s: 6 // SR: 217.9

The year is 2008, and Yusuf Pathan played a blinder against Deccan Chargers. Chasing 215, Yusuf batted at number 3. He scored a blistering half-century off 21 balls, and ended his knock on 61 off 28 balls. Pathan hit 4 fours and 6 sixes, and ended with a strike rate of 217.9.  

2009 – Adam Gilchrist vs DD – 17 balls

Final Score: 85(35) // 4s: 10 // 6s: 5 // SR: 242.9

The year is 2009, and we are into the time when IPL Playoffs weren’t a reality. In fact, this was the match which paved the way for the inception of the IPL Playoffs. Chasing 154 against Delhi Daredevils, Gilchrist got off to blinder scoring his fifty off just 17 balls. Gilchrist ended with 85 off 35 balls with 10 fours and 5 sixes, and a strike rate of 242.9.  

2010 – Robin Uthappa vs KXIP – 19 balls

Final Score: 51(21) // 4s: 4 // 6s: 4 // SR: 242.9

The year is 2010, and this comes in another 200+ run chase. Chasing 204, Uthappa came to bat when RCB needed 130 off 71 balls. Uthappa continued the momentum as he hit a blistering fifty off 21 balls to lift RCB to 143/2 in 14 fours. RCB won the match eventually, and Uthappa hit 4 fours and 4 sixes in his knock with a strike rate of 242.9. 

2011 – Paul Valthaty vs CSK – 23 balls

Final Score: 120*(63) // 4s: 19 // 6s: 2 // SR: 190.5

The slowest fifty among all IPL seasons’ fastest fifty is in fact the fastest fifty for 2011. It comes from an unknown player, Paul Valthaty. Chasing 189, Valthathy scored a brilliant fifty off 23 balls to kick-start the chase. He didn’t stop there, and continued to dominate as his unbeaten 120 off 63 balls helped KXIP chase the target in 19.1 overs.  

2012 – Owais Shah vs RCB – 19 balls

Final Score: 60(26) // 4s: 5 // 6s: 5 // SR: 230.8

The year is 2012, and the fastest fifty of the year comes from England’s Owais Shah while playing for Rajasthan Royals. Batting first, RR needed a booster with them being at 62/1 after 10.2 overs. Owais Shah did exactly that as his aggressive fifty off 19 balls helped RR pose a match-winning total. Shah hit 5 fours and 5 sixes in his knock with a strike rate of 230.8. 

2013 – Chris Gayle vs PWI – 17 balls

Final Score: 175*(66) // 4s: 13 // 6s: 17 // SR: 265.2

The year is 2013, and the fastest fifty for the year comes from Chris Gayle, who eventually scored an unbelievable 175 off 66 balls. Gayle lit off the Chinnaswamy stadium with a 17-ball fifty, 30 balls hundred, 53 balls 150, and 66 balls 175. Gayle hit 13 fours and 17 sixes in his knock with a strike rate of 265.2

2014 – Yusuf Pathan vs SRH – 15 balls

Final Score: 72(22) // 4s: 5 // 6s: 7 // SR: 327.3

2014’s fastest fifty comes from Yusuf Pathan, who single-handedly helped KKR with the chase. Chasing 161, Yusuf came to bat with the team at 55/2 in 7.2 overs. Needing 106 off 76 balls, Yusuf didn’t care about the run rate, and went blazing from ball one. He hit his fifty off just 15 balls, and ended on 72 off 22 balls with 5 fours and 7 sixes. 

2015 – Harbhajan Singh vs KXIP – 19 balls

Final Score: 64(24) // 4s: 5 // 6s: 6 // SR: 266.7

2015’s fastest fifty comes from a person, who was least expected to do it. Harbhajan, who usually plays attacking cameos towards the end of the match. This one comes in a losing cause, but Bhajji gave good hope to MI. Bhajji came to bat with MI at 59/6. With 119 runs more required, Bhajji hit a beautiful 19 balls fifty before ending his knock on 64 off 24 balls. 

2016 – Chris Morris vs GL – 17 balls

Final Score: 82*(32) // 4s: 4 // 6s: 8 // SR: 256.3

2016’s fastest fifty comes from Delhi Daredevils’ Chris Morris. Morris came to bat with Delhi Daredevils in trouble at 57/4. With 116 more runs needed off 56 balls, Morris hit a blistering 17 balls fifty. Unfortunately, DD lost the match by 1 run, but Morris played a memorable knock of 82 off 32 balls with 4 fours and 8 sixes. 

2017 – Sunil Narine vs RCB – 15 balls

Final Score: 54(17) // 4s: 6 // 6s: 4 // SR: 317.6

The year is 2017, and we are back to the time when Sunil Narine used to open for KKR. This fastest fifty comes against RCB in what is known as Narine’s rampage. Chasing 159, Narine went berserk from ball 1 as he got to his fifty off just 15 balls. Narine ended his knock on 54 off 17 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes. 

2018 – KL Rahul vs DD – 14 balls

Final Score: 51(16) // 4s: 6 // 6s: 4 // SR: 318.5

2018 was the time when KL Rahul used to bat in beast mode, unlike his post 2020 version. KL Rahul’s fastest fifty from 2018 is the second fastest fifty in the history of IPL. Chasing 167, KL Rahul looked ruthless from ball one. He smashed the-then fastest fifty off just 14 balls before ending his knock on 51 off 16 balls. He hit 6 fours and 4 sixes with a strike rate of 318.5.

2019 – Hardik Pandya vs KKR – 17 balls

Final Score: 91(34) // 4s: 6 // 6s: 9 // SR: 267.6

The 2019 edition sees the fastest fifty by Hardik Pandya off just 17 balls. After an onslaught by Russel earlier, Hardik went into beast mode chasing 233. He brought up his fifty off just 17 balls before ending his knock on 91 off 34 balls. MI lost the match, but Hardik will be remembered for his knock that comprised of 6 fours and 9 sixes. 

2020 – Nicholas Pooran vs SRH – 17 balls

Final Score: 77(37) // 4s: 5 // 6s: 7 // SR: 208.1

Pooran hasn’t had the desired success that he should have got for the talent he is. But surely has given two amazing fifties to breathe upon. The fastest fifty from 2020 comes in a losing cause, but has been a single-handed effort to chase a gigantic total. Chasing 202, Pooran scored a fifty off just 17 balls before ending on 77 off 37 balls. 

2021 – Ishan Kishan vs SRH – 16 balls

Final Score: 84(32) // 4s: 11 // 6s: 4 // SR: 262.5

The year 2021 sees a stunning half-century from Mumbai Indians’ opener, Ishan Kishan. Batting first against the bowling lineup of Rashid and Umran, Kishan blasted off with a 16-ball fifty. MI needed a big win, and this knock did exactly that as Kishan ended on 84 off 32 balls with 11 fours and 4 sixes.

2022 – Pat Cummins vs MI – 14 balls

Final Score: 56*(15) // 4s: 4 // 6s: 6 // SR: 373.3

The year 2022 sees the fastest fifty by KKR’s Pat Cummins against the bowling lineup of MI. Coming to bat with KKR needing 61 off 41 balls. Cummins finished the match in just 16 overs. He smashed his fifty off just 14 balls with him being unbeaten on 56 off 15 balls. Cummins smashed 4 fours and 6 sixes in his knock with a strike rate of 373.3.

2023 – Yashasvi Jaiswal vs KKR – 13 balls

Final Score: 98*(47) // 4s: 12 // 6s: 5 // SR: 208.5

Finally, the most recent of the lot, and also number 1 on the list belongs to Yashasvi Jaiswal. He lit the Eden Gardens in 2023 with the fastest fifty in the history of IPL off 13 balls. His first 13 balls read 6,6,4,4,2,4,1,4,6,4,4,4,1. Yashasvi didn’t waste a single ball in his 13-ball fifty. Eventually, Yasasvi Jaiswal scored 98 off 47 balls with 12 fours and 5 sixes. 

So, that’s about the fastest fifty in each IPL season from 2008 to 2023.  

Thanks for reading! Which is your fastest fifty in IPL from 2008 to 2023? Please email your thoughts to cric8fanatic@gmail.com

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