Well, smashing a century is undoubtedly one of the most dreamt-off moments for any IPL player and, especially when it comes from their bat as the first century of the season, it becomes all the more special. Since its inception in 2008, the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed numerous prominent hard-hitting batsmen, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, David Warner, AB de Villiers and many others smashing memorable match-winning tons for their teams over the years. While centuries are always applauded by the IPL aficionados at any given point in the IPL tournament, the first-ever century of the season inevitably holds a league of its own.
In this article we will take a look at the top 11 centurions of the last IPL seasons.
First Centurion Of Last 11 IPL Seasons Ft. Ishan Kishan’s Unbeaten 106*
| S.No | IPL Season | Player | Team | Runs |
| 1 | 2015 | Brendon McCullum | Chennai Super Kings | 100*- Not Out |
| 2 | 2016 | Quinton de Kock | Delhi Daredevils | 108* runs |
| 3 | 2017 | Sanju Samson | Delhi Daredevils | 102* runs |
| 4 | 2018 | Chris Gayle | Kings XI Punjab | 104* runs |
| 5 | 2019 | Sanju Samson | Rajasthan Royals | 102* runs |
| 6 | 2020 | KL Rahul | Kings XI Punjab | 132* runs |
| 7 | 2021 | Sanju Samson | Rajasthan Royals | 119* runs |
| 8 | 2022 | Joss Buttler | Rajasthan Royals | 100* runs |
| 9 | 2023 | Harry Brook | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 100* runs |
| 10 | 2024 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 113* runs |
| 11 | 2025 | Ishan Kishan | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 106* runs |
Brendon McCullum (CSK) – IPL 2015 Season
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) copper-bottomed batsman Brendon McCullum lit up the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai with a stunning opening century for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with an unbeaten knock of 100* runs. Brendon McCullum’s unbeaten 100* runs off just 56 deliveries played a major role in leading the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to a sensational victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by a margin of 45 runs.
Quinton de Kock (DD) – IPL 2016 Season
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The former wicket-keeper batter of the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Quinton de Kock delivered a path-breaking innings in the IPL 2016 edition and registered the first century of the season against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Quinton de Kock, often hailed as one of the most reliable match-finishers in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), displayed his batting prowess in full swing and smashed a sensational innings of 108 runs off 51 deliveries, leading the Delhi Daredevils to brilliantly chase down the target of 192* runs.
Sanju Samson (DD) – IPL 2017 Season
Another former flag-bearer of the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) squad, Sanju Samson, played a ground-breaking innings in the IPL 2017 season and smashed the season’s first century against Rising Pune SuperGiant in an iconic clash. The wicket-keeper-batsman, Sanju Samson, scored a match-winning total of 102* runs off just 63 deliveries, assisting the Delhi Daredevils squad to post a gigantic total of 205/4 in 20 overs. Sanju Samson undoubtedly rose to fame in the league after his match-winning innings for the Delhi Daredevils in the IPL 2017 season.
Chris Gayle (KXIP) – IPL 2018 Season
The former star batsman of the Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) undoubtedly ruled the pitch of Mohali in their spine-chilling clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2018 season. Facing SRH’s deadliest bowling line-up, including Bhuvneswar Kumar and Rashid Khan, Chris Gayle smashed an unbeaten knock of 104* runs off 63 deliveries which included a phenomenal total of 11 sixes and a boundary, and fearlessly registered the first century of the IPL 2018 season. Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 104* runs innings assisted the Kings XI Punjab squad to post a mammoth total of 193/3 in 20 overs.
Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals) – IPL 2019 Season
At the fifth spot in our list of the top eleven IPL players who smashed fearless centuries announcing the arrival of each edition in poise, we have Sanju Samson, who played for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2019 season and delivered a sensational innings of 102* runs off just 55 deliveries. Sanju’s first century of the IPL 2019 season against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) undoubtedly set the tone for his squad, which eventually posted a dominating total of 198/2 in 20 overs.
KL Rahul (KXIP) – IPL 2020 Season
Well, the IPL 2020 season inevitably proved to be one of the finest seasons for KL Rahul. The wicket-keeper batsman of the Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) became the flag-bearer of the squad and remained unbeaten against the lethal bowling attack of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). KL Rahul smashed the season’s first century and smashed 132* runs off 69 deliveries setting the tone for the Kings XI Punjab squad to dominate the opponent team.
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Sanju Samson (RR) – IPL 2021 Season
Over the years, Sanju Samson has established himself as the mainstay in the Rajasthan Royals (RR) franchise owing to his ground-breaking performances on the field under high-pressure situations. Sanju Samson delivered one such unbeaten knock against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) squad in the IPL 2021 season. With a total of 119* runs off 63 deliveries, Sanju Samson smashed the first century of the IPL 2021 season. Samson’s century included seven sixes and twelve boundaries.
Jos Buttler (RR) – IPL 2022 Season
At the eighth spot in our list of the top 11 IPL players who smashed fearless centuries, announcing the arrival of each edition in poise, we have former batsman of the Rajasthan Royals (RR), Jos Buttler. Butler led the RR squad from the front in their iconic clash against the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2022 season. Butler smashed a match-winning innings of 100* runs off 68 deliveries, registering the first century of the season.
Harry Brook (SRH) – IPL 2023 Season
English cricketer, Harry Brook, who was recently in the headlines for his shocking withdrawal from the ongoing IPL 2025 season, is at the ninth spot in our list of the top eleven centurions of the last IPL seasons. While playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) squad, Harry Brook registered his maiden IPL century against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens in the IPL 2023 season. Brook’s daunting total of 100* (not out) assisted SRH to post their highest total of the season, i.e. 228/4 for the season.
Virat Kohli (RCB) – IPL 2024 Season
Often crowned as one of the most seasoned players of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Virat Kohli scored the first century of the IPL 2024 season against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on April 6, 2024. While Kohli’s unbeaten knock of 113* (not-out) marked his eighth IPL century, it also marked the first century of the IPL 2024 season.
Although RR’s Joss Buttler smashed a dominating 100* off 55 deliveries, leading his squad to a shocking victory against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Kohli’s maiden century of the IPL 2024 was commemorated by the IPL aficionados beyond measurable limits.
Ishan Kishan (SRH) – IPL 2025 Season
Ishan Kishan was picked up by the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) franchise for a whopping INR 11.25 crore at the mega auction of IPL 2025 season held in Jeddah in November 2024 and well, with his dominant century against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) squad the 26 year old wicket keeper batsman has undoubtedly justified the expensive trade for his team.
Ishan Kishan smashed his maiden IPL century and the first century of the IPL 2025 season with an unbeaten 106* off just 47 deliveries leading his team, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to a phenomenal victory against Rajasthan Royals (RR) by a significant margin of 44* runs.
