These three men have achieved one of the rarest feats in the league!
The Indian Premier League (IPL) stands out as one of the most competitive T20 leagues worldwide, demanding peak performance from its players to outshine their adversaries. Amidst this fierce competition, numerous players have carved out unique records for themselves. One such remarkable feat is achieving both a century and a hat-trick in the league. Individually, scoring a century or claiming a hat-trick is a commendable accomplishment. However, combining both showcases a player's exceptional all-round skills!
Several notable players have managed to achieve this rare feat in the IPL's history. Let's take a closer look at those who have secured a century and a hat-trick in this prestigious tournament.
Rohit Sharma holds the distinction of being the first player to achieve the rare feat of both scoring a century and taking a hat-trick in the IPL. It's remarkable to note that Rohit Sharma's exceptional bowling performance occurred during the 2009 season, when he was part of the Deccan Chargers. In a league match against the Mumbai Indians (MI), a team he would later captain to five IPL titles, Rohit found himself in a pivotal role. MI, chasing a target of 146 runs, were at 100/4 by the end of the 15th over when Rohit stepped up to bowl.
In his first over, he dismissed Abhishek Nayar and Harbhajan Singh on consecutive deliveries. Returning for his spell in the 18th over, he claimed the wicket of JP Duminy on the first ball and stumped Saurabh Tiwary on the third, completing his only IPL hat-trick and ending with figures of 4 for 6. Three years later, in 2012, the hitman achieved another milestone, scoring his maiden IPL century while playing for the Mumbai Indians. Batting at No. 3 against the Kolkata Knight Riders, Rohit Sharma crafted an unbeaten 109 runs off 60 balls, showing his power with 12 fours and 5 sixes at a striking rate of 181.66.
Rohit Sharma running in-between the wickets
Shane Watson, widely regarded as one of the premier all-rounders in IPL history, boasts an impressive record of four centuries and a solitary hat-trick in the league. Notably, he achieved two centuries for both the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In the 2013 season, while representing RR, Watson marked his debut IPL century by accumulating 101 runs in 61 deliveries while opening the innings against CSK. His second IPL hundred came against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2015, scoring 104 runs. Subsequently, during the 2018 season for CSK, he secured his third (106) and fourth (117*) centuries. Watson's lone IPL hat-trick occurred in 2014, spanning two overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). In a memorable display, he dismissed Shikhar Dhawan on the last delivery of his first over and then, after a wait of 12 overs, claimed the wickets of Moises Henriques and Karn Sharma in the 17th over. This unique achievement makes Watson the only player to have scored a century and taken a hat-trick against the same opposition in the IPL.
In 2024, Sunil Narine became the third player to achieve the rare feat of scoring a century and claiming a hat-trick in the IPL. His hat-trick against Kings XI Punjab in 2013 occurred in a single over during the 15th, dismissing David Hussey, Azhar Mahmood, and Gurkeerat Singh Mann. Known for his spin prowess, Narine also demonstrated his batting skills, scoring a blistering 109 off 56 balls against the Rajasthan Royals. Regrettably, both his century and hat-trick came in losing efforts for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
With only three names on the list, it goes to show how rare a feat scoring a hatrick and a century really is. Out of thousands of players in the league, only three have been able to achieve it!
