The IPL first century Indian batsman was Manish Pandey, who created history during the 2009 Indian Premier League. Playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Pandey scored an unbeaten 114 runs from 73 balls against the Deccan Chargers at SuperSport Park, Centurion, on 21 May 2009. His innings included 10 fours and four sixes, helping RCB post 170/4 and win the match by 12 runs.
Pandey’s century was significant because the IPL had already seen several overseas batsmen reach three figures during its first two seasons, but no Indian player had managed to score an IPL century before him. ICC and IPL-related historical records identify Pandey as the first Indian to score a century in the IPL.
This article looks at the historic innings, the match circumstances, Pandey’s statistics, the importance of his achievement, and how the record became an important milestone in the development of Indian batting in T20 cricket.
Who Was the First Indian Batsman to Score a Century in the IPL?
Manish Pandey was the first Indian batsman to score a century in the IPL.
He achieved the milestone on 21 May 2009, during the second season of the tournament. Representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pandey opened the innings against the Deccan Chargers at Centurion in South Africa.
His final score was:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Batsman | Manish Pandey |
| Team | Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| Opponent | Deccan Chargers |
| Date | 21 May 2009 |
| Venue | SuperSport Park, Centurion |
| Runs | 114* |
| Balls | 73 |
| Fours | 10 |
| Sixes | 4 |
| Strike Rate | 156.16 |
| Team Score | 170/4 |
| Match Result | RCB won by 12 runs |
| Player of the Match | Manish Pandey |
The official IPL scorecard records Pandey’s unbeaten 114 from 73 deliveries and RCB’s 170/4.
Manish Pandey’s Historic IPL Century
The story of Pandey’s century is particularly interesting because he was only 19 years old at the time.
Before this innings, Pandey was not among the biggest names in the tournament. He had limited IPL experience and was given an opportunity to open the batting for RCB in a crucial league match.
That opportunity turned into a historic performance.
Pandey stayed at the crease throughout the innings and scored 114 not out, becoming the first Indian batsman to reach a century in IPL history. ICC reported that he struck 10 boundaries and four sixes from 73 deliveries.
His innings was not simply about reaching a personal milestone. It also had a direct impact on RCB’s qualification for the playoffs.
RCB vs Deccan Chargers: The Historic Match
The match was the 56th game of IPL 2009, played at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
RCB won the toss and chose to bat first. The team needed a strong performance, and Pandey provided exactly that.
RCB lost Jacques Kallis early, but Pandey continued to attack the Deccan Chargers bowling attack. He combined controlled stroke play with aggressive boundary hitting.
By the end of 20 overs, RCB had scored:
Royal Challengers Bangalore – 170/4
Pandey remained unbeaten on 114.
The Deccan Chargers then needed 171 runs to win.
They could not complete the chase and finished at:
Deccan Chargers – 158/6
RCB therefore won the match by 12 runs. The official IPL scorecard confirms the result, with Pandey named Player of the Match.
Pandey’s 114*: Breaking the Indian Century Barrier
One of the most important aspects of this innings was its historical timing.
The IPL began in 2008, and its first season immediately demonstrated the batting potential of T20 cricket. However, Indian batsmen had not scored a century during the inaugural season.
The wait continued into IPL 2009 until Pandey produced his remarkable 114*.
Contemporary reports described him as the first Indian to hit an IPL century. India Today reported that his unbeaten 114 helped RCB defeat the Deccan Chargers and reach the playoffs.
This made Pandey’s name part of IPL history even before many of the tournament’s later Indian batting stars established themselves.
How Did Manish Pandey Score 114?
Pandey’s innings contained a mixture of conventional cricket strokes and T20 aggression.
According to the IPL scorecard, he faced 73 balls and scored:
- 114 runs
- 10 fours
- 4 sixes
- 156.16 strike rate
- Not out
His boundary count meant that 64 of his 114 runs came through fours and sixes. The remaining runs came through running between the wickets.
The innings was therefore not based solely on boundary hitting. Pandey also maintained his innings long enough to bat through all 20 overs.
That ability to combine accumulation with aggression was one of the defining features of the knock.
A Crucial Opportunity for a Young Batsman
Pandey’s achievement becomes even more remarkable when his age and experience are considered.
He was only 19 when he scored the century.
Contemporary reports highlighted that he had been given an opportunity to open the innings and made the most of it. Rediff reported that Pandey was playing only his third IPL match when he produced the unbeaten 114.
The innings therefore represented more than a record. It was also an early indication of the potential of a young Indian batsman in the rapidly developing T20 format.
The Turning Point: A Missed Chance
An interesting detail from the match was a dropped opportunity early in Pandey’s innings.
Reports stated that Pandey was dropped when he was on only two runs. The missed chance proved costly for the Deccan Chargers because Pandey went on to make an unbeaten century.
After surviving the early opportunity, Pandey continued to attack and eventually became the second century-maker of that particular IPL season.
This is a useful reminder of how quickly momentum can change in T20 cricket.
RCB’s 170/4 and Deccan’s Failed Chase
Pandey’s century gave RCB a competitive total of 170/4.
The innings was particularly important because Deccan Chargers had a dangerous batting lineup, including international players such as Herschelle Gibbs and Adam Gilchrist.
During the chase, Gibbs scored 60 from 43 balls, but the Chargers could not maintain the required scoring rate. RCB eventually restricted them to 158/6.
The 12-run victory meant that Pandey’s individual record directly contributed to an important team result.
Why Manish Pandey’s Century Was So Important
The importance of Pandey’s century can be understood in several ways.
1. He Became the First Indian IPL Centurion
This remains the central achievement.
Pandey became the first Indian batsman to score an IPL century. ICC’s historical report specifically identifies him as the first Indian to achieve the feat.
2. He Achieved It at a Young Age
At just 19, Pandey became one of the youngest players at the time to produce such a major IPL innings.
3. The Century Helped RCB Reach the Playoffs
RCB defeated Deccan Chargers by 12 runs and secured a place in the knockout stage. Contemporary reports connected Pandey’s century with RCB’s qualification.
4. It Demonstrated Indian T20 Potential
The IPL was designed to bring together international stars and India’s emerging domestic talent. Pandey’s century provided an early example of a young Indian player producing an innings of international quality on a major T20 stage.
Was Manish Pandey the First Player to Score an IPL Century?
No.
This is an important distinction when discussing the keyword IPL first century Indian batsman.
Pandey was the first Indian batsman to score an IPL century, but he was not the first player overall to score an IPL century.
The distinction is important because the tournament’s first season featured overseas batsmen who reached three figures before an Indian player did.
Therefore:
First IPL century overall: an overseas batsman.
First Indian IPL century: Manish Pandey.
This distinction prevents confusion between the tournament’s first-ever century and the first century by an Indian batsman.
Manish Pandey’s Place in IPL History
Pandey’s 2009 century became one of the defining milestones of his IPL career.
The IPL website later described him as the player who became the first Indian to score a century in the competition in 2009.
The achievement also became part of the larger story of Indian T20 batting.
After Pandey, numerous Indian batsmen began producing IPL centuries, including players such as:
- Virat Kohli
- KL Rahul
- Rohit Sharma
- Sanju Samson
- Ajinkya Rahane
- Shubman Gill
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Rishabh Pant
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Suryakumar Yadav
The growth of Indian centuries in the IPL illustrates how the tournament became an important platform for developing aggressive batting skills.
Timeline: First Indian IPL Century
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2008 | IPL begins |
| 2008 | No Indian batsman scores an IPL century |
| 2009 | Manish Pandey represents Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| 21 May 2009 | Pandey scores 114* against Deccan Chargers |
| 21 May 2009 | RCB wins by 12 runs |
| 21 May 2009 | Pandey becomes first Indian IPL centurion |
| 2009 onward | More Indian batsmen begin joining the IPL century list |
The historical match took place at SuperSport Park in Centurion, with RCB scoring 170/4 and Deccan Chargers replying with 158/6.
Manish Pandey’s Century Statistics at a Glance
The numbers from Pandey’s historic innings tell the story clearly.
114 runs:* He remained unbeaten.
73 balls: The number of deliveries he faced.
10 fours: His boundary total in fours.
4 sixes: His maximums.
156.16 strike rate: His scoring rate.
170/4: RCB’s final score.
12 runs: RCB’s winning margin.
These figures are recorded in the match scorecard.
The Impact on Indian IPL Batting
The IPL has subsequently produced hundreds of outstanding Indian batting performances, but Pandey’s achievement occupies a special place because he crossed the barrier first.
His century showed that Indian domestic players could compete with some of the world’s most established T20 cricketers.
The significance is not necessarily that every Indian batsman who followed him was directly influenced by his innings. Rather, Pandey’s record forms part of the historical progression of Indian batting in the IPL.
The tournament evolved from its inaugural season into one of the world’s most prominent T20 competitions, while Indian batsmen increasingly became central contributors.
From Manish Pandey to a New Generation
Pandey’s record also provides useful historical context for understanding the development of Indian batting in the IPL.
In the early seasons, overseas players dominated many of the major batting records. Indian players gradually began matching and surpassing those benchmarks.
The IPL’s official statistics from the tournament’s early years show the increasing number of centuries scored by Indian batsmen. For example, an IPL statistical report from 2017 noted that 17 of the 43 centuries at that stage had been scored by Indian batsmen.
That progression demonstrates how quickly the Indian batting presence in T20 cricket expanded.
Why Pandey’s 114* Remains Memorable
There are many IPL centuries, but the first one by an Indian batsman has a unique historical value.
Pandey’s innings combined several important elements:
- It was produced by a young Indian player.
- It came in a crucial league match.
- He remained unbeaten.
- He scored at a strike rate above 150.
- His team won the match.
- His performance helped RCB qualify for the playoffs.
- He became the first Indian to score an IPL century.
Contemporary reporting described the innings as a breakthrough performance and noted that Pandey’s name had entered the record books.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first Indian batsman to score a century in IPL?
Manish Pandey was the first Indian batsman to score a century in the IPL. He scored 114* for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Deccan Chargers on 21 May 2009.
How many runs did Manish Pandey score in his first IPL century?
He scored 114 not out from 73 balls, including 10 fours and four sixes.
Against which team did Manish Pandey score his first IPL century?
He scored his historic century against the Deccan Chargers.
Where did Manish Pandey score his first IPL century?
The innings was played at SuperSport Park, Centurion, South Africa.
When did the first Indian score an IPL century?
Manish Pandey achieved the feat on 21 May 2009.
Did RCB win the match?
Yes. Royal Challengers Bangalore scored 170/4 and defeated Deccan Chargers by 12 runs.
How old was Manish Pandey when he scored the century?
Pandey was 19 years old when he became the first Indian IPL centurion. Contemporary reports highlighted his age and the significance of the achievement.
Conclusion
The answer to “IPL first century Indian batsman” is Manish Pandey.
On 21 May 2009, the young Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman produced an unbeaten 114 from 73 balls against the Deccan Chargers at Centurion. His innings contained 10 fours and four sixes, giving him a strike rate of 156.16. RCB finished on 170/4 and subsequently won by 12 runs.
More importantly, Pandey became the first Indian batsman to score a century in IPL history, a record that gave his name a permanent place in the tournament’s history.
His century was not only a personal milestone but also an early landmark in the development of Indian batting in T20 cricket. In the years that followed, many Indian batsmen would go on to score IPL centuries, but Manish Pandey will always remain the player who crossed that particular barrier first.
