Top 11 Slowest Fifties in IPL History (From 2008-2025)

IPL has become a name synonymous with explosive batting, strike rates and long sixes. Over the years, fans have witnessed breathtaking innings, be it Chris Gayle’s record 175 or AB de Villiers’ 360-degree hitting. Amidst the chaos of boundaries and towering sixes, there is another side to IPL too! These innings are marked by caution, patience and anchoring the innings when everything is falling apart.

Yes, we are talking about the slowest half-century in IPL history! Those rare innings in which a batsman takes time to settle down, sometimes a lot of time. While some of these innings came during difficult chases, others have become infamous examples of how even the best can survive under pressure.

In this blog, we will look at the top 11 slowest half-centuries in IPL history (2008-2025) and find out what made each innings memorable (or forgettable).

1. JP Duminy: 63 Balls (Mumbai Indians Vs Kings XI Punjab, IPL 2009)

• Venue: Kingsmead, Durban
• Season: IPL 2009
• Score: 59 (63)
• Strike rate: 93.65

South Africa’s Jean-Paul Duminy tops this list for his incredibly patient innings during the 2009 IPL season held in South Africa. Facing a difficult pitch at Kingsmead, Duminy scored 59 runs off 63 balls while chasing a modest target of 120 runs set by Kings XI Punjab. While he was there to anchor the innings, his slow pace ultimately cost Mumbai the match as they fell short by just three runs. His innings, though well-intentioned, is the slowest fifty in IPL history.

2. Parthiv Patel: 58 Balls (CSK Vs Kings XI Punjab, IPL 2010)

• Venue: Chepauk, Chennai
• Season: IPL 2010
• Score: 57 (58)
• Strike rate: 98.27

Chennai’s own Parthiv Patel is second on the list. In a low-scoring thriller at Chepauk, Parthiv played a slow innings of 57 runs off 58 balls while chasing 137. However, he failed to give CSK momentum under pressure, leading to a tie and a Super Over defeat against Punjab. It was an innings that highlighted the difficulty of batting on Chennai’s slow pitch, but reminded fans that in T20, time waits for no batsman.

3. Shikhar Dhawan: 50 Balls (Deccan Chargers Vs KKR, IPL 2012)

• Venue: Barabati Stadium, Cuttack
• Season: IPL 2012
• Score: 50 (50)
• Strike rate: 100

Known for his aggressive strokeplay, Dhawan stunned fans by hitting a run-a-ball fifty against KKR. Deccan Chargers’ batting lineup collapsed around him, putting him on the defensive. His 50 (50) helped the team reach 126/7, but it wasn’t enough as KKR comfortably chased down the total. This innings is one of Dhawan’s most unusual innings in IPL history.

4. Murali Vijay: 50 Balls (CSK Vs KXIP, IPL 2013)

• Venue: Mohali
• Season: IPL 2013
• Score: 50* (50)
• Strike rate: 100

One of India’s most successful openers, Murali Vijay also features in this list. Vijay played a slow but steady 50 off 50 balls in the chase of 139 against Punjab. When his partner Michael Hussey scored 86 off 54 balls, Vijay’s cautious approach ensured that the chase was not hampered. Despite being slow, the innings worked, proving that sometimes, if the other end is enthusiastic, even a 50-ball fifty can be useful.

5. Gautam Gambhir: 56 Balls (Delhi Daredevils Vs CSK, IPL 2010)

• Venue: Chepauk, Chennai
• Season: IPL 2010
• Score: 57 (56)
• Strike rate: 101.78

Gautam Gambhir, known for his tenacity and leadership, scored the slowest half-century in IPL history in a tough match against CSK. With the pitch bowling in favour of the bowlers, Delhi Daredevils were struggling and losing wickets at a rapid pace. Gambhir played till the end, scoring 57 runs off 56 balls, which helped Delhi win by 6 wickets. Despite his pace, his innings earned him the Player of the Match award.

6. Brendon McCullum: 56 Balls (KKR Vs MI, IPL 2010)

• Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
• Season: IPL 2010
• Score: 57 (56)
• Strike rate: 101.78

It is hard to imagine Brendon McCullum, who made a splash on his IPL debut with 158* runs, making it to this list. But during the 2010 season, chasing a target of 134, McCullum played a cautious innings of 57 runs off 56 balls. KKR won with Sourav Ganguly constantly supporting him, but fans were shocked to see McCullum playing such a poor innings.

7. Vijay Shankar – 51 Balls (SRH Vs RR, IPL 2020)

• Venue: Dubai
• Season: IPL 2020
• Score: 52* (51)
• Strike rate: 101.96

In the UAE leg of IPL 2020, Vijay Shankar showed his calmer side as he helped SRH chase down 155 against Rajasthan Royals. Partnering with Manish Pandey (83* off 47 balls), Shankar’s 52 runs off 51 balls spoke more about stability than aggression. Fans criticised the slow scoring, but it was the match-winning innings that sealed the game for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

8. Steven Smith: 50 Balls (Rising Pune Supergiant Vs MI, IPL 2017 Final)

• Venue: Hyderabad
• Season: IPL 2017 (Final)
• Score: 51 (50)
• Strike rate: 102.00

The IPL 2017 Final was a very nerve-wracking low-scoring match. Mumbai Indians were given a modest target of 130 runs. Rising Pune Supergiant captain Steven Smith played a patient innings of 51 runs off 50 balls, which almost took his team to victory. Unfortunately, he fell late, and Pune lost by just one run, making this one of the most heartbreaking slow half-centuries in IPL history.

9. Riyan Parag: 49 Balls (Rajasthan Royals Vs Delhi Capitals, IPL 2019)

• Venue: Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
• Season: IPL 2019
• Score: 50 (49)
• Strike rate: 102.04

Young Riyan Parag had a poor performance against Delhi in IPL 2019. Batting during the innings, Parag scored 50 runs off 49 balls, which was the only meaningful contribution for RR as they scored only 115 runs. Delhi chased it down easily, but this innings showed a glimpse of Parag’s ability under pressure.

10. Robin Uthappa: 58 Balls (Pune Warriors Vs Delhi Daredevils, IPL 2010)

• Venue: Pune
• Season: IPL 2010
• Score: 60* (58)
• Strike rate: 103.44

One of the most consistent performers in the IPL, Robin Uthappa also features in this rare list. Against Delhi Daredevils, he scored an unbeaten 60 off 58 balls as Pune Warriors struggled to bowl fast. While his innings ensured consistency, it was too slow for T20 standards. Delhi chased down the target with ease, with Virender Sehwag scoring 87 off 48 balls.

11. David Warner: 50 Balls (SRH Vs RR, IPL 2021)

• Venue: Delhi
• Season: IPL 2021
• Score: 57 (50)
• Strike rate: 114.00

Known for his explosive start, David Warner had a very poor performance with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2021 IPL season. In a match against Rajasthan Royals, Warner could not score his fifty in 50 balls. His struggles in that season eventually led to him being dropped from the playing XI and later released by SRH. It was a rare sight, the aggressive Warner, an accumulator, turned into Warner.

Also Read : Top 11 Slowest Fifties in T20Is History (2025 Ranked!)

Key Insights

• Only 3 of these innings resulted in successful run chases.
• Five of these innings were played on slow or bowler-friendly tracks (Chepauk, Durban, Delhi).
• Average strike rate in these 11 innings: 103.4.
• Four players on this list were openers, showing that slow starts can often be due to early caution.
• JP Duminy’s 63-ball fifty (2009) remained unbeaten for 16 years, the slowest in IPL history (until 2025).

Conclusion

While the IPL is usually defined by its firepower, this innings is proof that cricket is also about adapting to conditions. From JP Duminy’s anchor role to Smith’s heartbreaking final match and Vijay Shankar’s relentless chase, each slow fifty tells a different story. Sometimes, these innings helped secure a win. Other times, they highlighted the fine line between anchor and responsibility. But in each case, they remind us that patience is a virtue in T20 cricket too, though not always a cause for celebration.

FAQs: Questions & Answers

Q1. Who holds the record for the slowest fifty in IPL history?

The record for the slowest fifty in IPL history belongs to JP Duminy, who scored 59 off 63 balls for Mumbai against Kings XI Punjab in Durban in IPL 2009. Despite his efforts, Mumbai lost by 3 runs.

Q2. Why do slow fifty happen in T20 cricket?

A slow fifty is usually caused by challenging pitch conditions or strategic anchoring. Sometimes, batsmen deliberately slow down to rebuild the innings or to face high-quality bowling.

Q3. Has any player scored a slow fifty and still won the Player of the Match award?

Yes. Gautam Gambhir’s 57 (56) against Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2010 is a classic example. His slow innings helped Delhi Daredevils chase down a difficult score on a bowler-friendly surface, earning him the Player of the Match award.

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