Players with Centuries for Two Different IPL Teams

Scoring an IPL century is hard enough. Scoring centuries for two different franchises is one of the rarest achievements in the league. Through eighteen seasons, the combination of auctions, team changes and the sheer difficulty of reaching three figures in T20 cricket has kept this club extremely small.

The standout name is Shane Watson, the only batter to have scored IPL centuries for two different teams. His hundreds came a decade apart, for Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural 2008 season and for Chennai Super Kings in 2018, making his achievement a bridge across two eras of the tournament.

Shane Watson: Centuries a Decade Apart

Watson's first century came in the league's debut season, a 101 against Chennai Super Kings while opening for Rajasthan Royals. Ten years later, wearing yellow for Chennai, he produced two more hundreds in the same 2018 campaign, including an unbeaten 117 in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad that single-handedly won his team the title.

That final innings remains one of the greatest knocks in IPL history. Chasing 179, Watson was slow to start but exploded after the powerplay, finishing with eleven fours and eight sixes. That he did it against the team he had once represented only added to the story.

Why So Few Have Done It

The main reason this club is so small is that century-makers tend to stay put. Virat Kohli has all eight of his hundreds for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Chris Gayle's six came entirely in RCB colours. Jos Buttler's seven were all for Rajasthan Royals, and David Warner's four were all for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

When star batters do change teams, they rarely reproduce their best form immediately. KL Rahul scored all four of his centuries for Punjab Kings despite also representing Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants. Shubman Gill's three hundreds all came for Gujarat Titans in a single breakthrough 2023 season.

Near Misses and What-Ifs

Several great batters have centuries for one team and big scores for another without quite completing the double. AB de Villiers made all three of his hundreds for RCB despite starting his IPL career with Delhi Daredevils. Brendon McCullum's famous 158 not out came for Kolkata Knight Riders in the very first IPL match, and though he later played for Chennai, Kochi and Gujarat, he never repeated the feat.

Hashim Amla scored two centuries for Punjab Kings in 2017 but never played for another franchise long enough to add to the tally. Quinton de Kock has come close several times for different teams without converting.

The Auction Effect

The IPL auction system actually works against this record. When a century-maker enters the auction, franchises bid aggressively, but the player then faces the challenge of adapting to new teammates, a new home ground and new expectations. Watson managed it because his game was built on power and experience rather than conditions.

The IPL winners list shows that teams value continuity in their top order. Franchises that retain their star batters tend to compete more consistently, which further reduces the chances of players scoring hundreds for multiple sides.

Could Anyone Join Watson?

Of current players, the most likely candidates would need to first leave their current team and then score a century for the new one. With the 2026 season complete, the retentions ahead of the next auction will determine whether any established century-maker switches colours.

Young batters like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill have their hundreds with one franchise so far. If they were to move in a future auction and maintain their form, they could theoretically join Watson. But history suggests it is far easier said than done.

FAQs

Which player has scored IPL centuries for two different teams?

Shane Watson is the only batter to score IPL centuries for two different teams: Rajasthan Royals in 2008 and Chennai Super Kings in 2018.

How many IPL centuries does Shane Watson have?

Shane Watson has three IPL centuries: 101 for Rajasthan Royals in 2008, and 106 and 117 not out for Chennai Super Kings in 2018.

Did Shane Watson score a century in an IPL final?

Yes. His unbeaten 117 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2018 final is the highest individual score in an IPL final and won Chennai the title.

Has Virat Kohli scored centuries for more than one IPL team?

No. All eight of Virat Kohli's IPL centuries have come for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the only franchise he has represented.

Has Chris Gayle scored a century for two IPL teams?

No. All six of Chris Gayle's IPL centuries came for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, despite him also playing for Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings.

Why is it so rare to score centuries for two IPL teams?

Century-makers usually stay with one franchise, and those who switch teams rarely reproduce their peak form immediately due to new conditions, teammates and expectations.