The hundred-high Indians in the IPL

Bikash Mohapatra presents the six Indian batsmen who attained the three-figure-mark in previous editions of the T20 extravaganza.

Scoring a hundred in the Twenty20 format is a rarity. Tournaments, like the Indian Premier League, see a plethora of half centuries, but when it comes to the big one, there's a drastic fall in the number.

It has got nothing to do with the batsmen per se. It is simply because they don't get enough deliveries to build their innings.

However, it is to their credit that batsmen defy all the odds to reach the three-figure-mark in the format. That probably explains why the four seasons of the IPL has witnessed as many as 18 hundreds.

While it is a tad tedious to describe all the efforts, it might suffice to focus on the Indians.

Check out the Indian batsmen who attained the three-figure-mark in the tournament.

Manish Pandey: 73-ball 114

An unheralded entity till then, Manish Pandey became the first Indian batsman to register a century in the IPL when he scored a brilliant 114 not out against Deccan Chargers at the Centurion in the second edition of the tournament.

Yusuf Pathan: 37-ball 100

If any Indian batsman was expected to score an IPL hundred, it was Yusuf Pathan. And he didn't disappoint.

In the third edition, in Rajasthan Royals' match against Mumbai Indians, Yusuf smashed a 37-ball hundred.

The innings consisted of nine hits to the fence and eight over it; he was involved in a 107-run stand for the fifth wicket with Paras Dogra (41).

Alas, it was not enough, as Rajasthan fell short by four runs, Mumbai Indians' total of 212 proving too good in the end.

Murali Vijay: 56-ball 127

One of the finds of the IPL, Murali Vijay was a key player for twice champions Chennai Super Kings.

While he was a consistent opening batsman for his side, he got to the three-figure mark only in the third edition.

His 127 on home ground against Rajasthan Royals helped his side to a thumping win.

Paul Valthaty: 63-ball 120

It was a surprising innings by a hitherto unknown entity.

Paul Valthaty's 120 not out against Chennai Super Kings in the last edition not only helped Kings XI Punjab to a memorable six-wicket win but also made him one of the star-finds of the edition.

Valthaty's 63-ball knock was inclusive of 19 hits to the fence and two over it.

Sachin Tendulkar: 66-ball 100

He is anything but a surprise in the list.

However, suffice to say that Tendulkar's maiden century in the IPL took a long time coming.

Having failed to achieve the same in the first three editions, the Master Blaster eventually scored a brilliant 100 not out against the now-defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala last year.

Tendulkar's 66-ball knock was inclusive of 12 boundaries and three sixes and helped Mumbai Indians to a mammoth 182 for two.

In the final analysis it wasn't enough though, a belligerent 81 by Brendon McCullum, and his 128-run opening wicket stand with captain Mahela Jayawardene (56), ensuring the Kochi team a memorable win.

Virender Sehwag: a 56-ball 119

Another expected name in the list.

Virender Sehwag's maiden IPL ton, akin to Sachin Tendulkar's, took a long time coming.

However, it came in at the most opportune moment.

Chasing a daunting 176 in an away game, Delhi Daredevils had their skipper scoring a blistering 119, a 56-ball innings that included 13 boundaries and six sixes, to thank for ensuring the target become a cakewalk.