On 18 April 2008, Brendon McCullum gave a dream start to the Indian Premier League with a stunning 158* for Kolkata Knight Riders against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in the first ever match of the tournament.
On 16 April 2023, Venkatesh Iyer ended a long wait for a second century by a Kolkata Knight Riders batter, scoring a century against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium.
A total of 5,476 days have passed between the two centuries.
McCullum’s 158 is still considered one of the best knocks in the history of the tournament as he pulverised the RCB bowling attack that day in Bengaluru. Since then, a total of seven scores in 90s were scored by KKR batters, with Dinesh Karthik coming closest with a 97* in April 2019.
On Sunday though, the wait was ended by Venkatesh Iyer’s 49-ball century. Having come in to bat at No 3, at the 11-over mark Iyer had scored nearly 75% off KKR’s runs, and hit 100% of the boundaries KKR had scored till then. He was hit on his knee earlier in the innings and had trouble running between the wickets, but stood upright and delivered some massive blows.
He finished with a 51-ball 104 in the end, in an innings with six fours and nine sixes.
Iyer’s knock was the second century in IPL 2023, following Harry Brook’s against KKR at Eden Gardens. It was, however, not enough for KKR as MI coasted to a win thanks to Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav’s knocks.
IPL 2023: Ishan Kishan stars as MI defeat KKR, Venkatesh Iyer’s century in vain
#IPL 100s for #KKR
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 16, 2023
158* - Brendon McCullum in the inaugural match in 2008 on 18 April 2008 - 100 in 53 balls
15 years later!
100* - Venkatesh Iyer TODAY! on 16 Apr 2023 - 100 in 49 balls!#IPL2023#KKRvMI #MIvKKR#KKRvsMI #MIvsKKR
Highest scores by KKR batters in IPL
Player | Runs | Balls | SR | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BB McCullum | 158* | 73 | 216.43 | v RCB | Bengaluru | 18 Apr 2008 |
VR Iyer | 104 | 51 | 203.92 | v Mumbai | Wankhede | 16 Apr 2023 |
KD Karthik | 97* | 50 | 194.00 | v Royals | Eden Gardens | 25 Apr 2019 |
MK Pandey | 94 | 50 | 188.00 | v Kings XI | Bengaluru | 1 Jun 2014 |
CA Lynn | 93* | 41 | 226.82 | v Guj Lions | Rajkot | 7 Apr 2017 |
G Gambhir | 93 | 51 | 182.35 | v RCB | Eden Gardens | 28 Apr 2012 |
MS Bisla | 92 | 61 | 150.81 | v Super Kings | Chennai | 28 Apr 2013 |
SC Ganguly | 91 | 57 | 159.64 | v Chargers | Hyderabad | 11 May 2008 |
G Gambhir | 90* | 60 | 150.00 | v Sunrisers | Hyderabad | 16 Apr 2016 |
Here are some reactions to Iyer’s knock:
V Iyer vs MI: 5⃣3⃣, 5⃣0⃣*, 4⃣3⃣, 1⃣0⃣4⃣ @venkateshiyer | #MIvKKR | #AmiKKR | #TATAIPL 2023 pic.twitter.com/fipuMOPbQ7
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 16, 2023
💯 for @venkateshiyer! 👏 👏
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 16, 2023
This has been a stunning knock ⚡️ ⚡️
He has overcome an injury to notch up his maiden IPL TON! 💪 💪
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/CcXVDhfzmi#TATAIPL | #MIvKKR | @KKRiders pic.twitter.com/BiNC0gDDbJ
Had missed Mccullum's 158* - this is the first time I'm seeing a KKR batter make a ton!
— Sarah Waris (@swaris16) April 16, 2023
VENKATESH IYER!
Century by a KKR batsman after 15 years
— Pratik (@Prat1k_) April 16, 2023
So privileged to witness this live 💜 Well played @venkateshiyer pic.twitter.com/vxiqOo8AMD
Venkatesh Iyer becomes the 1st centurion KKR after that monstrous 158 by Baz Mcculum on the opening day of IPL 1. Its been a long wait for the KKR but this innings was really special. Well played @venkateshiyer ! #MIvsKKR
— Abhinav Mukund (@mukundabhinav) April 16, 2023
Venkatesh Iyer only 2nd batter to score hundred for @KKRiders there was a proper method to this inning 👏
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 16, 2023
Pretty historic day
— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) April 16, 2023
Tendulkar’s are the first father-son pair to play in IPL.
Marco Jansen and Duan Jansen are the first twins to play in IPL.
Venkatesh Iyer only 2nd KKR batsman to get a 100 after Brendon McCullum!#MIvKKR #IPL23
2 - Only two players have ever scored a ton for @KKRiders in the @IPL - @venkateshiyer (104) in the #MIvKKR game today and @Bazmccullum (158* vs RCB) in the opening game (18 April 2008) of the competition; this is also Iyer's maiden ton in the IPL. Bravado. #TATAIPL #IPL2023 pic.twitter.com/YtoehglKBl
— OptaJeev (@OptaJeev) April 16, 2023
This is such a wonderful demonstration from Venkatesh Iyer of how to put together a T20 innings. Kept going, got the big runs and even though he was losing partners, never eased up. Hit spin and pace both. In a small shortlist for the best innings this #TataIPL2023.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 16, 2023
𝘿𝙊 𝙉𝙊𝙏 𝙈𝙄𝙎𝙎!
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 16, 2023
1⃣0⃣4⃣ Runs
5⃣1⃣ Balls
6⃣ Fours
9⃣ Sixes@venkateshiyer put on a show despite getting injured to score a magnificent 💯! 🙌 🙌 #TATAIPL | #MIvKKR | @KKRiders
Relive that stunning knock 🎥 🔽https://t.co/yrOl1WXnWH