IPL is a party that has provided cricket fans an entire world of experiences, as well as many nail-biting finishes, monster sixes, and drama-filled moments; but in terms of a quick-fire fifty at the speed of light, nothing gets the adrenaline pumping quite like it.
It’s a combination of power striking, pinpoint timing, and nerves of steel that can provide the elite entertainment and excitement. Since the inception of the IPL in 2008 this competition has provided several instances of batsmen turning a game on its head in a matter of just a delivery or two. Let’s take a closer look at the top ten fastest fifty in IPL history.
1. Yashasvi Jaiswal – 50 in 13 Balls
- Team: Rajasthan Royals
- Opponent: Kolkata Knight Riders
- Year: 2023
Jaiswal’s 13-ball blitz in Eden Gardens will forever be remembered for being the fastest fifty in IPL. With his stellar timing and fearlessness, he eclipsed the prior record (14 balls) to prove he was arguably one of IPL 2023’s best players finishing with a blistering 98* and later to score a century in IPL 2024 against Mumbai. In IPL 2023 season, Jaiswal became RR’s leading run-scorer with an impressive 625 runs in 14 matches, keeping the high-scoring tradition alive with Rajasthan.
2. KL Rahul – 50 in 14 Balls
- Team: Kings XI Punjab (now known as Punjab Kings)
- Opponent: Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals)
- Year: 2018
KL Rahul was bought for ₹11 crore in the 2018 auction, and he gave the franchise the hope of an immediate return. With a 14-ball fifty, KL Rahul broke Sunil Narine’s record for the fastest fifty, going on to have arguably the best batting season in IPL history, with 659 runs at a strike rate of 158.41. He has not stopped scoring runs since, and would captain Lucknow SuperGiants in IPL 2024, leading the team with 520 runs.
3. Pat Cummins – 50 in 14 Balls
- Team: Kolkata Knight Riders
- Opponent: Mumbai Indians
- Year: 2022
Pat Cummins, Australia’s star pacer known for his bowling, shocked the IPL world with a 14-ball 50 in 2022. Chasing 161 runs, Cummins helped Kolkata Knight Riders reach the total in just 16 overs. His innings consisted of 6 sixes and 4 fours – a real treat from an Australian frontline pacer. In IPL 2024, Cummins would captain Sunrisers Hyderabad to a second-place finish, taking 18 wickets.
4. Yusuf Pathan – 50 in 15 Balls
- Team: Kolkata Knight Riders
- Opponent: Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Year: 2014
In what seemed like a tall order, Pathan came to the crease with KKR needing 106 runs from 47 balls. What followed was pure carnage – a 15-ball fifty with an incredible over from Dale Steyn yielding 26 runs. He went on to score 72 runs off 22 balls, leading KKR to a vital victory.
5. Sunil Narine – 50 in 15 Balls
- Team: Kolkata Knight Riders
- Opponent: Royal Challengers Bangalore
- Year: 2017
Specializing in slinging spin, Narine shocked the world playing as a pinch-hitting opener. Sent to the top of the order, he blasted a 15-ball fifty against RCB’s attack. The fifty put KKR in contention while keeping Narine as an extra surprise at the top.
6. Nicholas Pooran – 50 in 15 Balls
- Team: Lucknow SuperGiants
- Opponent: Royal Challengers Bangalore
- Year: 2023
In a chase of 213 and needing to make some big runs, Pooran came in and had a whopping 62 off 19 balls including 7 sixes. He and LSG pulled off an incredible last-ball thriller against RCB. In IPL 2024, Pooran continued his explosive play with 499 runs, of which roughly 70% were boundaries.
7. Jake Fraser-McGurk – 50 in 15 Balls (Twice)
- Team: Delhi Capitals
- Opponents: Sunrisers Hyderabad & Mumbai Indians
- Year: 2024
The Aussie phenomenon achieved the 15-ball target not once but twice in IPL 2024. Against SRH and MI, Fraser-McGurk flat-out annihilated both opponents, being the first player to score 50 in ≤15 balls twice in a single IPL season, equalling Travis Head’s T20 record.
8. Suresh Raina – 50 in 16 Balls
- Team: Chennai Super Kings
- Opponent: Kings XI Punjab
- Year: 2014
In one of the most iconic innings in IPL history, Raina smashed 87 off 25 balls in a losing cause, scoring a 50 in 16 balls. His strokeplay had CSK chasing down 226, before an unfortunate run out ended what could’ve been the fastest IPL century. Nevertheless, the innings itself is immortalised.
9. Ishan Kishan – 50 in 16 Balls
- Team: Mumbai Indians
- Opponent: Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Year: 2021
Ishan went crazy in a must-win game for MI, hammering 82 off 32 and completing a 16-ball half-century, taking MI to 235/9, MI’s highest score of the season. They unfortunately lost and didn’t make the playoffs, but Kishan’s innings stood tall in a lost season.
10. Abhishek Sharma – 50 in 16 Balls
- Team: Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Opponent: Mumbai Indians
- Year: 2024
In a high-scoring game in Hyderabad, Abhishek Sharma broke Travis Head’s recently set record with a 16-ball fifty, en route to an explosive 63 off 23 (with seven sixes) and became a major part of SRH’s aggressive style of cricket in IPL 2024.
Summary Table: Fastest Fifty in IPL (2008–2024)
| Player | Balls | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 13 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Kolkata | 11 May 2023 |
| KL Rahul | 14 | Delhi Capitals | Mohali | 8 April 2018 |
| Pat Cummins | 14 | Mumbai Indians | Pune | 6 April 2022 |
| Romario Shepherd | 14 | Chennai Super Kings | Bengaluru | 3 May 2025 |
| Yusuf Pathan | 15 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Kolkata | 24 May 2014 |
| Sunil Narine | 15 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Bengaluru | 7 May 2017 |
| Nicholas Pooran | 15 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Bengaluru | 10 April 2023 |
| Jake Fraser-McGurk | 15 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Delhi | 20 April 2024 |
| Jake Fraser-McGurk | 15 | Mumbai Indians | Delhi | 27 April 2024 |
| Suresh Raina | 16 | Kings XI Punjab | Mumbai | 30 May 2014 |
| Ishan Kishan | 16 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Abu Dhabi | 8 October 2021 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 16 | Mumbai Indians | Hyderabad | 27 March 2024 |
Final Thoughts: A League of Explosive Brilliance
These astonishing innings illustrate why IPL is cricket and more than a league, it is a fireworks festival. Fastest fifty in IPL doesn’t just have established Indian stars like KL Rahul and Raina, but also young talent like Jaiswal and Fraser-McGurk, as well as unexpected garnishes, like Cummins and Narine.
With the IPL’s ongoing evolution, one can only speculate — who will break the upcoming 13-ball mark?
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