IPL Captains Who Have Scored Centuries in IPL History

Virat Kohli holds the record for the most IPL centuries as captain, scoring five hundreds while leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru. KL Rahul is second with three centuries as captain, while Shubman Gill has two. Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Adam Gilchrist, David Warner, Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer have also scored an IPL century while captaining their teams.

Through IPL 2026, 11 different captains have scored a century while leading an IPL franchise. Kohli remains comfortably ahead after making four hundreds as RCB captain in the 2016 season alone.

IPL Captains Who Have Scored Centuries

Kohli and Rahul are the only IPL captains to have scored at least three centuries while leading a side. Gill joined the multiple-century group after adding another hundred as Gujarat Titans captain in IPL 2026.

All IPL Centuries Scored by Captains

These 18 innings make up the captain-centuries recorded through the end of IPL 2026.

1. Virat Kohli – 5 Centuries as IPL Captain

Virat Kohli has scored more centuries as an IPL captain than any other player, with five hundreds for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Four of those centuries came during his extraordinary 2016 season.

Kohli's four hundreds in IPL 2016 remain one of the most remarkable batting runs by a captain in league history.

He finished that season with 973 runs, still one of the greatest individual IPL campaigns.

Virat Kohli's First Century as IPL Captain

Kohli's first IPL hundred as captain came against Gujarat Lions in Rajkot in 2016.

He scored 100 not out from 63 balls.

It was also the first T20 century of his career.

Virat Kohli's Highest Score as Captain

Kohli's highest IPL score as captain was 113 against Kings XI Punjab in Bengaluru later in the same 2016 season.

He reached the century from only 47 balls, which was then the fastest IPL hundred by a captain.

Kohli struck 12 fours and eight sixes in the innings as RCB piled up a huge total in a rain-shortened match.

Kohli's Fifth Captaincy Century

His fifth century as captain came against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2019.

Kohli made 100 from 58 balls as RCB scored 213/4 at Eden Gardens.

No other IPL captain has yet matched his five hundreds.

2. KL Rahul – 3 Centuries as IPL Captain

KL Rahul has scored three IPL centuries while captaining a franchise — one for Punjab Kings and two for Lucknow Super Giants.

Rahul is also the only player to score IPL centuries as captain of two different franchises.

KL Rahul's 132* Against RCB

Rahul's first century as captain came during IPL 2020.

Leading Kings XI Punjab, he smashed 132 not out against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

It remains the highest individual IPL score by a captain among the century-makers listed here.

Rahul hit 14 fours and seven sixes in the innings.

Two Centuries Against Mumbai Indians in 2022

Rahul became captain of Lucknow Super Giants when the franchise entered the IPL in 2022.

He scored two hundreds against Mumbai Indians during LSG's debut season.

The first was 103 not out from 60 balls at Brabourne Stadium.

Only days later, he again scored 103 not out, this time from 62 balls.

That gave Rahul three IPL centuries as captain.

3. Shubman Gill – 2 Centuries as Gujarat Titans Captain

Shubman Gill has scored two IPL centuries as captain of Gujarat Titans.

His first came during IPL 2024, his first season as GT captain.

Gill scored 104 against Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad.

The 2024 innings came during a huge opening partnership with Sai Sudharsan, who also scored a century.

Gill added another hundred while captaining Gujarat in 2026, scoring 104 against Rajasthan Royals.

That moved him behind only Kohli and Rahul for the most IPL centuries scored as captain.

Sachin Tendulkar – 100* vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala

Sachin Tendulkar became the first captain to score a century in IPL history.

The Mumbai Indians captain made 100 not out from 66 balls against Kochi Tuskers Kerala at Wankhede Stadium on April 15, 2011.

Tendulkar hit 12 fours and three sixes.

Despite his unbeaten century, Mumbai Indians lost the match after Kochi successfully chased the target.

Tendulkar's hundred opened a record category that later included several of the IPL's most successful captains.

Virender Sehwag – 119 vs Deccan Chargers

Virender Sehwag became the second IPL captain to score a century in 2011.

He made 119 from 56 balls for Delhi Daredevils against Deccan Chargers in Hyderabad.

Delhi were chasing 176 and had fallen to 25/3 before Sehwag took control.

His innings included 13 fours and six sixes.

Delhi completed the chase with an over remaining.

Sehwag also became the first captain to score an IPL century while chasing.

Adam Gilchrist – 106 vs RCB

Adam Gilchrist scored 106 from 55 balls for Kings XI Punjab against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011.

He was 39 years old at the time and remains one of the oldest players to make an IPL hundred.

Gilchrist shared a huge partnership with Shaun Marsh as Punjab posted a commanding total in Dharamsala.

He was the first Punjab Kings captain to score an IPL century.

David Warner – 126 vs Kolkata Knight Riders

David Warner scored 126 from 59 balls as Sunrisers Hyderabad captain against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2017.

It remains the highest IPL score by an SRH captain.

Warner reached his hundred from 43 balls and helped Sunrisers post a winning total.

At the time, his 126 also moved past Virender Sehwag's 119 as the highest individual IPL score by a captain.

KL Rahul later overtook that mark with 132* in 2020.

Sanju Samson – 119 vs Punjab Kings

Sanju Samson marked his first match as full-time Rajasthan Royals captain with a stunning century in IPL 2021.

He scored 119 from 63 balls against Punjab Kings while chasing 222.

Samson hit 12 fours and seven sixes.

Rajasthan needed five from the final ball, but Samson was caught attempting to clear the boundary and RR lost by four runs.

His 119 remains one of the highest scores ever recorded by a captain during an IPL chase.

Ruturaj Gaikwad – 108* vs Lucknow Super Giants

Ruturaj Gaikwad scored his first century as Chennai Super Kings captain against Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2024.

Gaikwad finished unbeaten on 108 from 60 deliveries.

The century came during his first season as CSK's full-time captain after taking over the role from MS Dhoni.

Gaikwad became the first Chennai Super Kings captain to score an IPL century.

Rishabh Pant – 118* vs RCB

Rishabh Pant joined the list in IPL 2025 by scoring an unbeaten 118 for Lucknow Super Giants against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Pant was captaining LSG and reached his hundred in 54 balls.

He eventually finished with:

• 118 not out
• 61 balls
• 11 fours
• 8 sixes

The innings helped Lucknow reach 227/3.

Pant's 118* is the third-highest individual score by an IPL captain behind KL Rahul's 132* and David Warner's 126.

Shreyas Iyer – 101* vs Lucknow Super Giants

Shreyas Iyer scored his first IPL century while captaining Punjab Kings in 2026.

He made an unbeaten 101 from 51 balls against Lucknow Super Giants.

Iyer struck 11 fours and five sixes as Punjab successfully completed the chase.

He also became only the fourth captain to score an IPL century while chasing.

The four are:

Sehwag, Kohli and Iyer won their respective chases, while Samson's 119 came in a narrow Rajasthan Royals defeat.

Most Centuries as Captain in IPL History

Virat Kohli leads the record with five IPL centuries as captain.

Kohli alone accounts for five of the 18 captain-centuries through IPL 2026.

Highest Individual Score by an IPL Captain

KL Rahul's unbeaten 132 for Kings XI Punjab against RCB in 2020 is the highest individual score by an IPL captain.

Rahul's 132* has remained the captaincy record since September 2020.

First IPL Captain to Score a Century

Sachin Tendulkar was the first player to score an IPL century while captaining his team.

He made 100* for Mumbai Indians against Kochi Tuskers Kerala on April 15, 2011.

Two more captains joined the list during the same season:

• Virender Sehwag – 119
• Adam Gilchrist – 106

That made IPL 2011 the first season to feature multiple captain-centurions.

Most Centuries by an IPL Captain in One Season

Virat Kohli holds this record with four centuries as captain in IPL 2016.

He scored:

• 100* vs Gujarat Lions
• 108* vs Rising Pune Supergiant
• 109 vs Gujarat Lions
• 113 vs Kings XI Punjab

No other IPL captain has scored more than two centuries across an entire captaincy career apart from KL Rahul.

Kohli managed four in one season.

Captains to Score a Century While Chasing in IPL

Only four captains had scored an IPL hundred in a run chase through IPL 2026:

Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer.

Scoring a century while chasing places additional pressure on the captain because the required rate and target remain visible throughout the innings.

Which IPL Teams Have Had a Captain Score a Century?

Captains have scored hundreds for most long-standing IPL franchises.

Punjab Kings later had KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer join Gilchrist as captain-centurions.

How IPL 2026 Changed the Record

IPL 2026 added two notable captaincy centuries.

Shubman Gill scored 104 for Gujarat Titans, giving him his second century as an IPL captain.

Shreyas Iyer scored 101 not out for Punjab Kings against Lucknow Super Giants, becoming the 11th different player to register an IPL hundred while captaining a side.

The updated leading totals are now:

• Virat Kohli – 5
• KL Rahul – 3
• Shubman Gill – 2
• Eight other captains – 1 each

Kohli's five-century record therefore remains untouched.

FAQs

Who has scored the most centuries as captain in IPL?

Virat Kohli holds the record with five IPL centuries as captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Four of those hundreds came during the 2016 season.

How many IPL centuries did KL Rahul score as captain?

KL Rahul scored three centuries as captain — one for Punjab Kings in 2020 and two for Lucknow Super Giants in 2022.

Who was the first IPL captain to score a century?

Sachin Tendulkar was the first. He scored 100 not out for Mumbai Indians against Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011.

What is the highest score by a captain in IPL history?

KL Rahul holds the record with 132 not out for Kings XI Punjab against RCB in IPL 2020.

Did MS Dhoni score an IPL century as captain?

No. MS Dhoni has not scored an IPL century. His IPL career therefore does not feature on the captain-centuries list.

Did Rohit Sharma score an IPL century as captain?

No. Rohit Sharma's first IPL century came for Mumbai Indians in 2012, before he became the franchise's captain in 2013. His later IPL hundred also came after his regular MI captaincy had ended.

Did Sanju Samson score a century as IPL captain?

Yes. Samson scored 119 against Punjab Kings in 2021, his first game as Rajasthan Royals' full-time captain.

How many IPL captains have scored a century?

Eleven different captains have scored at least one IPL century while leading their side through IPL 2026.

Sources

• IPLT20 – Virat Kohli's Captaincy Century Records in IPL 2016
  View official IPL statistics
• Times of India – Shreyas Iyer's 101 as Punjab Kings Captain in IPL 2026*
  View Shreyas Iyer's captaincy-century report