On April 22, 2021, the Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Rajasthan Royals by 10 wickets in an Indian Premier league game that was played in Mumbai.
RCB opener Devdutt Padikkal who was the architect of their win, became just the fourth uncapped player to score a century in the competition‘s history.
Chasing 178 for victory against Rajasthan Royals, Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli carried Royal Challengers Bangalore to 181 in 16.3 overs, without the fall of a single wicket. It was the fourth 10-wicket win for RCB, the highest for any team in IPL history. While Padikkal did the bulk of the scoring, remaining unbeaten on 101 from 52 deliveries, Kohli was 72 not out from 47 balls, Kohli‘s knock saw him become the first player in IPL history to cross the 6000 run mark.
Shaun Marsh
Four Kings XI Punjab
Against Rajasthan Royals on May 28, 2008 at Chhattisgarh
Marsh scored a 69-ball 115 against the eventual champions in the last match of the group stages to set up their 41-run victory. Marsh’s knock included 11 fours and 7 sixes. Marsh went on to play for Australia in the same year, making his T20 debut in June and ODI debut days later. He also earned his test cap for the Aussies in September 2011.
Manish Pandey
For Royal Challengers Bangalore Against Deccan Chargers on May 21, 2009 at Centurion, South Africa
Like in 2008, the final match of the league stage of 2009 also saw an uncapped players score a century. It was Manish Pandey this time around as he hit a 73-ball 114 not out including 10 fours and 4 sixes to set up RCB‘s 12 run victory. Manish Pandey has earned his India cap, making his ODI debut in July 2015 and T20 debut days later.
Paul Valthaty
For Kings X I Punjab Against Chennai Super Kings on April 13, 2011 at Chandigarh
The next hundred by an uncapped player came in 2011. Batting first, CSK had posted a big total of 188 for four in their 20 overs. Paul Valthaty emerged as KXIP‘s hero as he led the chase from start to end. Valthaty’s 63-ball 120 not out, including 19 fours and 2 sixes, helped his team win by six wickets. Valthaty, however, did not play for India.
Devdutt Padikkal
For Royal Challengers Bangalore Against Rajasthan Royals on April 22, 2021 at Mumbai
While the first four IPLs saw three uncapped players scoring centuries, there was a 10 year gap before Devdutt Padikkal became the fourth one in the list. Opening with RCB and India captain Virat Kohli in their chase of 178 against RR, Padikkal went from strength to strength as RCB won convincingly. Particle was unbeaten on 101, his 52-ball knock including 11 fours and 6 sixes.
At 20 years and 289 days (on the day of the knock), Devdutt Padikkal became the third youngest centurion in IPL history. While Manish Pandey was 19 years old and 253 days old during his knock of 114 not out in 2009, Rishabh Pant scored 128 not out for Delhi Daredevils against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018 at the age of 20 years and 218 days.
Padikkal, however, is the youngest to score a century in the IPL during a chase. The previous best was held by South Africa’s Quinton de Kock. De Kock was 23 years and 112 days old when he scored 108 for Delhi Daredevils against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2016.
Picture Credit : Google
