Shubman Gill's century wasn't just a personal milestone—it was the IPL's poetic 100th, sealed in his 100th outing
On a warm May evening in 2024, history whispered through the blades of grass in Ahmedabad. Staring down the barrel of elimination, the Gujarat Titans found their heroes in the most poetic fashion. Shubman Gill, calm and composed, anchored the innings and etched his name into the chronicles of IPL folklore. In his 100th IPL innings, the 24-year-old carved out the tournament's 100th century, a moment that will be remembered for generations. Destiny doesn't write better scripts than this.
It all began with Brendon McCullum's blitzkrieg in the inaugural IPL match back in 2008. That night set the tone for a league built on brilliance and bravery. Sixteen years later, it was Shubman Gill's turn to light up the same storybook. His majestic 104 against Chennai Super Kings didn't just push the century count to triple digits—it added weight to his reputation as a modern-day maestro. His 104 came off just 55 balls, laced with 9 elegant fours and 6 soaring sixes.
Gill wasn't alone in this riot of runs. Beside him stood B Sai Sudharsan, matching elegance with aggression. The two stitched a 210-run opening stand—the joint-highest in IPL history. In doing so, they didn't just torment bowlers; they rewrote records and set the stadium on fire with their performance. As Gill reached his hundred with a boundary, Sudharsan was hot on his heels. Four balls later, he brought up his own century, the 101st in IPL history, with a thunderous six.
The Titans ended at a towering 231 for 3. Gill and Sudharsan's artistry and Chennai's bowling woes painted a one-sided picture. Deshpande and Thakur tried their best to apply the brakes late on. Deshpande, who had dropped Gill earlier, redeemed himself by dismissing both set batters in one over. Their efforts at the death restricted GT to just 41 runs in the final five overs. But the damage had already been done.
Chennai's reply started with stumbles. Two wickets fell within the first two overs. Rachin Ravindra was run out in a moment of hesitation, and Rahane followed, undone by Sandeep Warrier. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad then played an uncharacteristic shot, falling for a duck. At 2 for 2 and 43 for 3 after the powerplay, the Super Kings' chase lost its rhythm before it began, leaving the fans in disappointment.
Daryl Mitchell brought hope with a fearless counterattack. He easily cleared the ropes and even took on Rashid Khan, GT's most prized spinner. Moeen Ali found his range, too, launching Noor Ahmad for three successive sixes. At one stage, CSK were 119 for 3 in 12 overs. The game had life again. But T20s are cruel—they tempt you with possibilities and crush them in minutes.
Enter Mohit Sharma. A year ago, on this very ground, he couldn't defend the final over in the IPL final. This time, he made sure there were no last-over dramas. Mitchell, then Moeen, and finally Shivam Dube all fell to his variations. His 3 for 31 spells closed the door firmly on Chennai. Not even MS Dhoni's late fireworks could alter the outcome.
Gill might've scripted history, but the night wasn't all cheers. He was fined ₹24 lakhs for a slow over rate. His teammates weren't spared either, losing a chunk of their match fee. Still, those numbers will fade. What won't fade is the memory of a batter scoring the 100th IPL century—in his 100th innings—under lights, pressure, and legacy.
