Every player dreams of playing a pivotal role for their team, especially in crucial matches. Summit clashes demand a calm and composed demeanour from players. Scoring a century in such high-pressure games is remarkable, particularly in the world’s most prestigious and challenging T20 league, the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The IPL has witnessed a total of 100 centuries, but only two players have managed to score a century in the final match of this marquee tournament. In this article, we will spotlight these two extraordinary players who achieved the milestone of scoring a century in an IPL final.
Wriddhiman Saha 
Hailing from West Bengal, Wriddhiman Saha is a renowned wicket-keeper batter in Indian cricket, having represented India in 40 Test matches and 9 ODI matches so far.
In the 2014 IPL final, the right-handed batter became the first player to score a century in the IPL final. After being invited to bat first, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) were tottering at 58/2 halfway through the innings and needed someone to accelerate and score briskly to set a competitive total in the grand finale. Saha took his time to settle at the crease and then unleashed a rampage in the second half of the innings, reaching his century off just 49 balls and helping Punjab post a hefty 199/4 in 20 overs. Saha remained unbeaten on 115 runs off 55 balls, smashing 10 fours and 8 sixes in the process.
However, fate had other plans for the Punjab-based franchise as Manish Pandey overshadowed Saha’s magnificent ton, scoring 94 runs and helping KKR lift the silverware.
Shane Watson
When it comes to the world’s best all-rounders, Australia’s Shane Watson would definitely be featured on the list for his exceptional batting and bowling skills. Watson played a crucial role in Australia’s victories in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2006 and 2009, earning the player-of-the-match award in the tournament final both times.
In the 2018 IPL, the Chennai Super Kings franchise returned to the tournament after serving a two-year ban, with the team affectionately dubbed “#Daddy’s army” on social media due to its roster of senior players. Among them was the Australian all-rounder, who had earned the franchise’s trust.
The so-called “daddy’s army” announced a solid comeback in the IPL, stunning everyone with their exceptional performance and securing a berth in the grand finale. In the summit clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad, who set a target of 179 runs for the MS Dhoni-led side, Watson initially struggled, failing to open his account in the first 10 balls, but Watto was recognized as a big match player, and he proved it once again. The right-handed batter got into his groove and started pummeling SRH bowlers for fun. He remained unbeaten on 117 runs off 57 balls, smashing 11 fours and 6 sixes, and helped CSK lift their third IPL trophy.
Watson was awarded the player of the match in the IPL final, and he expressed gratitude to MS Dhoni, Stephen Fleming, and Tommy Simsek in the presentation ceremony, stating, “The support from MS, Fleming, and Simsek was excellent.”
