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Pat Cummins returned to the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a bang. Leading Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) charge against Mumbai Indians (MI), the Australian pacer redeemed himself after conceding 49 runs with the ball.
Coming in to bat ahead of the usually explosive Sunil Narine was a gamble that paid off for KKR, with Cummins hitting an unbeaten 56 runs off just 15 balls, ending the match in the 16th over itself. 35 of those runs were hit in the final over as the pace all-rounder decimated Daniel Sams to gift KKR the win.
His half-century was the joint fastest IPL fifty, and here we look at some of earlier 50's that were once the fastest in India's premier league:
Pat Cummins (KKR) 14-ball 50 vs MI
Returning after a mixed series in Pakistan, Cummins was slotted straight into the team, replacing Tim Southee. Eager to prove his selection, the 28-year-old Australian started off strong with the ball, but ended up conceding a slew of runs at the hands of Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma. With a tall target of 162 to chase and five wickets down, Cummins entered the pitch on a mission and got going almost immediately, with Venkatesh Iyer playing the role of an anchor. He hit four fours and six sixes, including four sixes in the 16th over where Cummins smashed Sams for 35 runs, and a six on the last ball of the over to gift KKR the victory.
KL Rahul (then King XI Punjab) 14-ball 50 vs DC
The current captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), KL Rahul broke the record for the fastest 50 in IPL history, previously held by Yusuf Pathan. His innings included four sixes and six fours as the former Punjab Kings side chased down 167 runs in 18.5 overs and secured the win with six wickets to spare. He finished the match with 51 runs in 16 balls, before being dismissed by Trent Boult.
Yusuf Pathan (KKR) 15-ball 50 vs SRH
Two other KKR players earlier held the record for the fastest IPL fifty. The first of the two was hard-hitting all-rounder Yusuf Pathan, who in 2014, played a masterclass against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). With the Riders chasing 161 runs in 15.2 overs to reach the second spot in table, Yusuf played one of the most memorable knocks in the IPL, completing his half-century in just 15 balls. Eventually, it was Shakib Al Hasan and Suryakumar Yadav who took the team across the line.
Sunil Narine (KKR) 15-ball 50 vs RCB
Chasing 159 against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine dominated the proceedings with a 100-run partnership in only six overs. Narine equalled the record for the joint-highest 50 in only 15 balls, including four sixes and six fours as they chased down the target in 15.1 overs and won the match by six wickets.
Suresh Raina (CSK) 16-ball 50 vs KXIP
Chennai Super Kings' former star Suresh Raina smashed a half-century in just 16 balls against Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2014. Raina scored 87 runs in that knock with the help of six sixes and 12 fours at a striker rate of 348. However, chasing a massive total of 226 runs, the four-time IPL champions floundered their batting innings, and went on to lose the match by 24 runs.
Read also: KKR vs MI: Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Rana breach IPL code of conduct, penalised with this fine
