The IPL playoffs format was introduced in 2011, scrapping the semi-finals. This was to give an advantage to the top 2 teams for finishing at the top two position in the points table and have one extra game to fail to reach the playoffs.
Performing well in the playoffs elevates the status of a player, indicating that the particular cricketer has got the skills, abilities, and temperament to succeed under the immense pressure.
There have a number of batters who have brought out their best in the playoffs.
Here are 7 batsmen who have hit a century in the IPL playoffs:
Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill is the latest entrant to this list with his century against Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2023. Carrying on his supreme form from the league phase, Gill cracked 129 runs off 60 balls to propel Gujarat Titans’ total to 233 and they won by 62 runs.
Jos Buttler
Rajasthan Royals opener Jos Buttler had a remarkable season in IPL 2022 wherein he slammed 4 hundreds, the last of which came in Qualifier 2 against RCB. In the chase of 158 runs against RCB, Buttler smashed 106 runs off 60 balls to take RR home by 7 wickets and into their second IPL final.
Rajat Patidar
Patidar came into IPL 2022 as a replacement player and became a key figure in RCB’s batting line-up. His best was on display in Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants. Patidar played one of the best-ever IPL innings as he walloped 112 runs off 54 balls which helped RCB put up 207 on the board and they won the match by 14 runs.
Shane Watson
In the 2018 final against SRH, CSK opener Watson produced one of the most memorable IPL centuries. In a tall chase of 182 runs, CSK lost Faf du Plessis early and Watson couldn’t get going. Watson played out 10 dots balls on a trot at the start of his innings before he unleashed his beast mode and smacked SRH bowlers all around the Wankhede. Watson scored 117* off 57 balls as CSK chased down the target with 9 balls to spare.
Wriddhiman Saha
Batting at number 4 for the Kings XI Punjab in the 2014 final against KKR, Saha hit his maiden IPL century, finishing with 115* off 55 balls to help Punjab’s total to 199. However, a collective batting effort from the KKR batters saw them chase down the target in 19.3 overs.
Virender Sehwag
Kings XI Punjab opener Sehwag played a breath-taking knock of 122 runs off 58 balls in Qualifier 2 against CSK. Sehwag scored 12 fours and 8 sixes in his entertaining innings to help his side post a giant toal of 226 runs, which CSK fell short by 24 runs.
Murali Vijay
CSK opener Vijay became the first batsman to hit a century in playoffs when he elegantly scored 113 off 58 balls against Delhi Daredevils in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2012.
