As a player ages, keeping up with their form and fitness becomes challenging. However, a few maintain their skills and fitness levels vigorously to extend their careers with the same enthusiasm as in their earlier days.
This has been the case in the IPL as well, with many experienced players plying their trade for various teams. On many occasions, these veterans have shown their expertise, be it with the bat or ball.
Scoring a century in this demanding format is not easy. But some prominent batters have achieved the feat at the fag end of their careers, showing they are still the best in business.
So, in this article, we’ll list the top 10 oldest batters who have scored a century in the IPL.
Oldest Batters to Score IPL Century
| Player | Age while Scoring IPL 100 | Score (Balls) | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Gilchrist (Kings XI Punjab) | 39y 184d | 106 (55) | RCB | Dharamsala | 17 May 2011 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya (Mumbai Indians) | 38y 319d | 114* (48) | CSK | Wankhede | 14 May 2008 |
| Chris Gayle (Kings XI Punjab) | 38y 210d | 104* (63) | SRH | Mohali | 19 Apr 2018 |
| Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai Indians) | 37y 356d | 100* (66) | Kochi Tuskers | Wankhede | 15 Apr 2011 |
| Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians) | 36y 350d | 105* (63) | CSK | Wankhede | 14 Apr 2024 |
| Shane Watson (Chennai Super Kings) | 36y 344d | 117* (57) | SRH | Wankhede | 27 May 2018 |
| Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders) | 35y 326d | 109 (56) | RR | Eden Gardens | 16 Apr 2024 |
| Virender Sehwag (Kings XI Punjab) | 35y 222d | 122 (58) | CSK | Wankhede | 30 May 2014 |
| Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) | 35y 153d | 113* (72) | RR | Jaipur | 6 Apr 2024 |
| Shikhar Dhawan (Delhi Capitals) | 34y 320d | 106* (61) | Kings XI Punjab | Dubai | 20 Oct 2020 |
Key Insights
Adam Gilchrist is the oldest batter to bring up a century in the IPL. The keeper-batter scored 106 runs off 55 balls at the age of 39 years and 184 days while playing for the Kings XI Punjab.
Gilchrist is also the oldest captain to score an IPL hundred. The Australian was leading the Punjan team when he scored 106.
Also Read | The Best Five Overseas Captains in IPL History
Sachin Tendulkar is the only other captain to hammer a ton after turning 35. The Master Blaster was 37 years and 356 days old when he scored his only IPL century (100*) against the Kochi Tuskers in 2011.
Gilchrist, Chris Gayle, and Shane Watson are the 3 batters who have notched up 2 IPL centuries each after turning 35. Watson scored both for the Chennai Super Kings, while Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers & KXIP) and Gayle (RCB & KXIP) scored tons for 2 different teams.
The mighty Gayle and Jos Buttler have scored 5 or more hundreds in the IPL after crossing the age of 30. Both are also among the top 5 hundred scorers in the league.
Read Next | The Top Ten Fastest & Slowest IPL Centuries
