In cricket, nothing stings quite like putting up a personal masterclass, only to watch your team fall short. The Indian Premier League has seen it all thrilling last-ball finishes, massive totals, and dramatic chases but it has also witnessed moments where one man stood tall, did everything possible with the bat, yet ended up on the losing side.
That’s the heartbreak of T20 cricket. You could bat like a dream, even carry your team almost single-handedly, but in a game where one over can flip the result, a lone warrior’s effort sometimes isn’t enough.
Let’s look at those bittersweet moments in IPL history the centuries scored in a losing cause. These aren’t just statistics; they are reminders of performances that deserved better endings.
When Hundreds Weren’t Enough
The IPL has produced many memorable hundreds. But every now and then, a player lights up the stage, scores a ton, yet finishes second-best. These centuries are a mix of grit, brilliance, and sheer bad luck. Whether it was a failed chase, poor bowling support, or a last-over twist, these knocks remain unforgettable for all the right (and wrong) reasons.
Read more: IPL 2025 Suspended: Why Today’s Match Was Cancelled and When the League Will Resume
Full List of IPL Centuries in Losing Cause
| Player | Score (Balls) | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Symonds (DC) | 117* (53) | RR | Hyderabad | 24 Apr 2008 |
| Yusuf Pathan (RR) | 100 (37) | MI | Mumbai (Brabourne) | 13 Mar 2010 |
| Sachin Tendulkar (MI) | 100* (66) | Kochi Tuskers | Wankhede | 15 Apr 2011 |
| Shane Watson (RR) | 101 (61) | CSK | Chennai | 22 Apr 2013 |
| Wriddhiman Saha (KXIP) | 115* (55) | KKR | Bengaluru | 1 Jun 2014 |
| Virat Kohli (RCB) | 100 (63) | Gujarat Lions | Rajkot | 24 Apr 2016 |
| Steve Smith (RPSG) | 101 (54) | Gujarat Lions | Pune | 29 Apr 2016 |
| Hashim Amla (KXIP) | 104* (60) | MI | Indore | 20 Apr 2017 |
| Hashim Amla (KXIP) | 104 (60) | Gujarat Lions | Mohali | 7 May 2017 |
| Rishabh Pant (DD) | 128* (63) | SRH | Delhi | 10 May 2018 |
| Sanju Samson (RR) | 102* (55) | SRH | Hyderabad | 29 Mar 2019 |
| KL Rahul (KXIP) | 100* (64) | MI | Wankhede | 10 Apr 2019 |
| Ajinkya Rahane (RR) | 105* (63) | DC | Jaipur | 22 Apr 2019 |
| Mayank Agarwal (KXIP) | 106 (50) | RR | Sharjah | 27 Sep 2020 |
| Shikhar Dhawan (DC) | 106* (61) | KXIP | Dubai | 20 Oct 2020 |
| Sanju Samson (RR) | 119 (63) | PBKS | Wankhede | 12 Apr 2021 |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK) | 101* (60) | RR | Abu Dhabi | 2 Oct 2021 |
| Venkatesh Iyer (KKR) | 104 (51) | MI | Wankhede | 16 Apr 2023 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) | 124 (62) | MI | Wankhede | 30 Apr 2023 |
| Heinrich Klaasen (SRH) | 104 (51) | RCB | Hyderabad | 18 May 2023 |
| Virat Kohli (RCB) | 101* (61) | GT | Bengaluru | 21 May 2023 |
| Virat Kohli (RCB) | 113* (72) | RR | Jaipur | 6 Apr 2024 |
| Rohit Sharma (MI) | 105* (63) | CSK | Wankhede | 14 Apr 2024 |
| Sunil Narine (KKR) | 109 (56) | RR | Kolkata | 16 Apr 2024 |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK) | 108* (60) | LSG | Chennai | 23 Apr 2024 |
Heartbreaks That Stand Out
Rishabh Pant – 128 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2018*
No one has scored more in a losing cause than Pant did that night in Delhi. His 128 not out off just 63 balls was a masterclass in timing and aggression. But SRH chased the target with ease, thanks to their top-order brilliance. It remains the highest score in a losing cause in IPL history.
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has now scored three IPL hundreds that ended in defeat, the most by any player. Despite his iconic status, even he hasn’t been able to drag his team across the line on several occasions. His latest unbeaten 113 against Rajasthan Royals in 2024* came with a strike rate that was questioned, even though he carried his bat.
Hashim Amla
The classy South African struck two centuries in IPL 2017, both in losing causes. One came against Mumbai Indians and the other versus Gujarat Lions. Even with near-perfect batting, his team, Kings XI Punjab, just couldn’t hold their end up.
Sanju Samson –
Samson’s elegance with the bat has often stood out. But twice he’s walked back with a ton to his name and no points to show for it. His 119 against Punjab Kings in 2021 was so close to being a winning cause, but a last-ball drama saw him fall short.
Key Stats and Trivia
- Virat Kohli has scored the most centuries in losing causes – 3 in total.
- Sanju Samson, Hashim Amla, and Ruturaj Gaikwad have done it twice each.
- 2023 and 2024 seasons were particularly harsh—four players each year hit centuries in defeats.
- Only one double-century partnership (Pant and Vijay Shankar’s attempt in 2018) had a centurion end up on the wrong side.
Closing Thoughts
Every player dreams of scoring a century in the Indian Premier League. But when that hundred is not enough, it cuts deeper. These innings are still worth celebrating. They tell us a story of grit, class, and often… bad luck.
In a format where the margin of error is razor-thin, and games can be flipped in one over, these innings become part of IPL folklore—not for the victory, but for how close they came to one.
So the next time a batter hits a ton and ends up losing, remember—sometimes, even perfection is not enough in the IPL.
