Top 5 fastest fifties in IPL history

Here we have a look at the top five fastest fifties in the history of IPL

Lucknow Super Giants keeper-batter Nicholas Pooran scored a whirlwind fifty against the Royal Challengers Bangalore to enter into IPL's history books. The left-handed batter smashed seven sixes to become the fastest half-centurion in the 16th edition of the IPL and lead his side to a come-from-behind win.

Surprisingly, the West Indian's haul of 15 balls is not the fastest in IPL history as four other men have scored equal or quicker than that. Of the five fastest in the marquee league's history, all have come batting second and all five have come in winning causes.

We take a look at the top 5 fastest fifties in IPL history:

5) Nicholas Pooran - 15 balls

West Indian keeper-batter Nicholas Pooran is the latest entrant into this club after scoring his half-century off only 15 deliveries for the Lucknow Super Giants against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The left-handed batter reached the mark with a six of left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell in the 15th over of the run-chase.

Chasing a steep 213, the Super Giants slipped to 105-4 in the 11th over. After losing three wickets within the powerplay, Marcus Stoinis counter-attacked with a 29-ball 65 and set the game up for Pooran. The southpaw eventually fell for 62 off 19 balls, but not before putting the win in touching distance for his side.

4) Sunil Narine - 15 balls

Sunil Narine once used to play record-breaking knocks for fun as his promotion to the top paid rich dividends for the Kolkata Knight Riders. The West Indian off-spinner matched Pooran to hit his fastest fifty off 15 deliveries against the Royal Challengers in IPL 2017 and reached the mark with a six off Sreenath Aravind.

Chasing a modest 159 at the batting friendly Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Trindadian got off the Knight Riders to a flyer as he added 105 for the opening wicket with Chris Lynn. Narine was also the first to go as Aniket Choudhary had him stumped on the first delivery after the powerplay. Despite his wicket, the two-time champions cruised to a six-wicket win in 15.1 overs.

3) Yusuf Pathan - 15 balls

Former Indian batter Yusuf Pathan is arguably an IPL legend, given his significant contribution in Rajasthan Royals' title win in 2008. The right-handed batter hit 56 off 39 deliveries in the final of that edition to get the Royals over the line in the decider.

He still carried that smae swag of hitting sixes at will a few seasons later in 2014 as the 40-year-old brought up his fifty off 15 balls for the Kolkata Knight Riders against the SunRisers Hyderabad. The jaw-dropping knock of 72 off 22 balls had seven sixes as the Knight Riders gunned down 161 in 14.2 overs.

2) Pat Cummins - 14 balls

Kolkata Knight Riders' Pat Cummins stunned the Mumbai Indians and the cricketing fraternity as he slammed the joint-fastest fifty in IPL 2022. Cummins, who walked in after Andre Russell's dismissal rather cheaply, took no time to settle and struck his first boundary off the second delivery he faced.

The 29-year-old clobbered a four and a six off Jasprit Bumrah's bowling in the next over to reduce the equation to 35 off the remaining five overs as Kolkata were in pursuit of 162. What followed was surreal as Daniel Sams probably endured the most forgettable night of his career, conceding all 35 in the same over. His fellow countryman breached the 50-run mark with a boundary in the final delivery of the 16th over, doing so in 14 balls.

1) KL Rahul - 14 balls

KL Rahul was in the form of his life in the 2018 edition, taking it to all the bowling attacks like no other batter might have. The Karnataka-born opener broke Yusuf Pathan's record and reached the landmark with a boundary against Delhi Daredevils leggie Amit Mishra. Although Rahul fell to Trent Boult for 51, Punjab Kings chased 167 comfortably.

The 2018 edition saw the 30-year-old finish the highest run-getter for Kings XI Punjab and the third-highest for his franchise, hitting 659 runs in 14 innings at 54.91. However, Punjab once again failed to reach the playoffs.