Ruturaj Gaikwad played a massive knock as the Chennai Super Kings captain in Match 39 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season at the Chepauk. Gaikwad, who was appointed skipper of CSK ahead of the season, smashed a 108*-run knock from 60 balls against Lucknow Super Giants. The classy Gaikwad hit his second IPL century and a first as captain. He became the third CSK player to smash two IPL hundreds alongside Shane Watson and Murali Vijay.
However, Gaikwad’s century and Shivam Dube’s whirlwind half-century went in vain as LSG chased down CSK’s target of 211. Marcus Stoinis was the hero for LSG as he humbled CSK with an unbeaten 124 from just 63 balls.
Nonetheless, Gaikwad, who became CSK’s first skipper to hit a ton, joined a list of greats to hammer centuries as captains in the IPL. Gaikwad became the eighth player to do so in the competition’s history.
Here, we decode players who smashed IPL tons as captains.
Virat Kohli 5 tons (RCB)
Virat Kohli is IPL’s top scorer with 7642 runs at 38.01. He owns eight tons and 52 fifties. Notably, five of his centuries for RCB have come as captain, including four alone in a dominating 2016 season when he smashed 973 runs. Kohli left the captaincy, having led the side from 2011 to 2022. He led in a few games in 2023. In 143 matches, Kohli racked up 4994 runs as captain at 41.96. He clobbered five tons and 37 fifties.
In IPL 2016, Kohli smashed his maiden century in 20-over cricket against Gujarat Lions. He smashed 100* from 63 balls (4s: 11, 6s: 1) as RCB managed 180/2. In response, the Lions won the match (182/4).
In IPL 2016, Kohli clobbered the Rising Pune Supergiants in a solid run-chase. In a chase of 192, Kohli smacked a quality 108* from 58 balls (4s: 8, 6s: 7). RCB won by seven wickets.
In IPL 2016, Kohli smashed 109 from 55 balls versus Gujarat Lions and shared a record 229-run stand alongside AB de Villiers (129). RCB posted 248/3 before downing GL (104/10).
In IPL 2016, Kohli hit a 50-ball 113 (4s: 12, 6s: 8) versus Punjab in IPL 2016. RCB managed 211/3 in 15 overs before defeating the Kings, who scored 120/9 in the revised 14 overs.
Kohli’s fifth ton as captain in IPL came in 2019 versus Kolkata Knight Riders. Kohli’s 100 from 58 balls was laced with nine fours and four sixes. RCB scored 213/4 at Eden Gardens. In response, KKR managed 203/5.
KL Rahul 3 tons (1 for Punjab and 2 for LSG)
KL Rahul smashed a superb 132*-run knock for the Punjab Kings against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2020 season in Dubai. Rahul faced 69 balls, smashing 14 fours and seven sixes. He struck at 191.30. Punjab posted a competitive score of 206/3 in 20 overs. In response, RCB folded for a paltry 109.
Rahul’s next century as captain came for his present side, LSG, in the IPL 2022 season against Mumbai Indians. The dasher hit 103* from 60 balls in a knock of nine fours and five sixes. LSG managed 199/4 in 20 overs. In response, MI lost the match by 18 runs.
Rahul’s third ton as captain came in the same season, also against MI. He hammered 103* from 62 balls this time, and LSG posted 168/6 at the Wankhede. MI lost the match, scoring 132/8.
As per ESPNcricinfo, KL Rahul has scored 2478 runs as captain in IPL from 58 matches. He averages 50.46. Besides his three tons, he has 19 fifties. Rahul owns four centuries and is closing in on 4500 IPL runs.
David Warner 1 ton (SRH)
David Warner plays for Delhi Capitals, but his best time came when he led the Sunrisers Hyderabad team. He guided SRH to the IPL 2016 trophy. Warner ended up playing 83 matches as captain, scoring 3356 runs at 45.35. He smashed one century and 32 fifties. 69 of his captaincy games were for SRH. He led DC in IPL 2023 in Rishabh Pant’s absence.
Warner’s solitary century as skipper came in IPL 2017 for SRH against KKR. He smashed 126 from 59 balls (4s: 10, 6s: 8). SRH posted 209/3 before the Knights managed 161/7.
Overall, Warner has smoked 6564 runs from 183 IPL matches, clobbering four tons and 62 fifties.
Sanju Samson 1 ton (RR)
RR ace Sanju Samson has led in 53 matches in the IPL so far, smashing a total of 1618 runs at 35.95. He owns one ton and 10 fifties. Samson’s one-century as captain in the IPL came in the IPL 2021 season versus Punjab. The Kings smashed 221/6 in 20 overs before a one-man show from Samson saw RR score 217/7. Samson hit 119 from 63 balls, hitting 12 fours and seven sixes.
Overall, former DC player Samson has scored 4202 runs from 160 IPL matches at 30.44. He owns three centuries and 23 fifties.
Sachin Tendulkar 1 ton (MI)
Sachin Tendulkar managed Mumbai Indians in 51 matches as skipper from 2008 to 2011. Harbhajan Singh, Shaun Pollock, and Dwayne Bravo managed a few games as captains during that phase.
Tendulkar’s maiden IPL century as skipper came versus the Kochi Tuskers in the 2011 season at the Wankhede. He hit 100* from 66 balls, smashing 12 fours and three sixes. MI managed 182/2 in 20 overs, but Kochi got the job done in 19 overs (184/2).
In his 51 games as captain, Sachin scored 1723 runs at 40.06. Besides his one-ton, he hammered 10 fifties. Overall, Tendulkar hit 2334 runs in 78 matches. He managed one century and 13 fifties.
Adam Gilchrist 1 ton (Deccan Chargers)
Adam Gilchrist made his presence felt for the Deccan Chargers, helping them win the IPL title in 2009. He was their skipper from 2008 to 2010. In the inaugural season, VVS Laxman managed six games as well. Gilchrist then moved to Punjab Kings and was captain from 2011 to 2013. David Hussey managed a few games in between.
Gilchrist’s only IPL century as captain came in 2011 for Punjab against RCB. He smashed 106 from 55 balls as Punjab scored 232/2. RCB lost thereafter, scoring 121/10.
As captain, Gilchrist scored 1900 runs from 74 matches as skipper at 26.76. He also hammered 11 fifties. Overall, the Aussie star scored 2069 runs from 80 matches at 27.22. He smashed 11 fifties and two centuries.
Virender Sehwag 1 ton (Delhi)
In the 2011 IPL season, Virender Sehwag scored a brilliant 119-run knock against Deccan Chargers, who scored 175/5 in 20 overs. Delhi rode on a one-man show in Sehwag, who faced 56 balls, slamming 13 fours and six sixes. Delhi won the match by four wickets.
Sehwag, who led both Delhi and Punjab, managed 53 games as skipper. Sehwag finished with 1524 runs at 31.10. Besides his 1 ton, he hit 11 fifties. Overall, Sehwag slammed 2728 runs in the IPL, smashing 16 fifties and two centuries. He finished with 106 IPL sixes.
Ruturaj Gaikwad 1 ton (CSK)
Gaikwad has shown plenty of character in his maiden stint as captain of CSK. In eight matches, he has already hammered 349 runs at a whopping 58.16. His strike rate is worth above 140. In addition to a century, he also owns two fifties.
Overall, Gaikwad has managed 2146 runs from 60 IPL games at 41.26. He owns two tons and 16 fifties.