First Centurion In Each Major T20 League: David Warner in BBL, Faf du Plessis in SA20 (Source: Web)Scoring a century is one of the biggest feats a batter can achieve. However, a hundred in the T20 cricket, the shortest format of the game, is even more spectacular, considering the limited number of deliveries in the format.Nonetheless, despite the restricted number of balls in T20 cricket, many batters over the years have showcased brilliance with centuries across T20 leagues.That being said, in this article, take a look at the first centurion in each major T20 league, including the IPL, BBL, and PSL.IPL 2008- Brendon McCullum (158)Brendon McCullum took no time to announce himself in the first and biggest T20 league in the world, the Indian Premier League.Brendon McCullum smashed the first-ever century in the IPL, with his unbeaten 158 from a mere 73 deliveries. The former New Zealand batter propelled Kolkata Knight Riders to an imposing 222 for 3 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 1st match of the tournament.PSL 2016- Sharjeel Khan (117)Sharjeel Khan scored the first-ever century in Pakistan Super League (PSL) history during the 2016 inaugural season, hitting a magnificent 117 off 62 balls for Islamabad United.The historic innings took place on February 21, 2016, during the 3rd Qualifying Final against Peshawar Zalmi in Dubai.BPL 2012- Chris Gayle (101)Four years later after Brendon McCullum hit that brutal 158* on the first match in inaugural edition of the IPL, Chris Gayle replicated the brilliance in the first game of the Bangladesh Premier League positioned as a mini-IPL, with an unbeaten 101.Also read: Highest Individual Scores In T20 CricketThe Universe Boss lit the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium up with his 44-ball century on the opening day of BPL 2012. His match-winning knock featured 10 sixes and 7 boundaries. MLC 2023- Heinrich Klaasen (110)Seattle Orcas secured a nail-biting 2-wicket victory against MI New York in a league game of the MLC 2023. However, Heinrich Klaasen’s scintillating innings of 110 hogged the limelight.The right-hander unleashed an onslaught on the MINY bowlers, showing remarkable composure and skill. Klaasen amassed 26 runs off a Rashid Khan over before reaching the first century of the tournament off just 41 deliveries.APL 2018- Hazratullah Zazai (124)A 20-year-old Hazratullah Zazai conjured the first century of the Afghanistan Premier League on October 9, 2018. The left-handed opening batter, playing for Kabul Zwanan, scored an impressive 124 off just 55 balls, piloting his team’s win over Nangarhar Leopards.The youngster smoked 12 boundaries and nine sixes against a bowling attack that had the likes of Mitchell McClenaghan and Ben Cutting, who had taken a fifer the other day.CLT20 2011- Andrew Puttick (104)On October 10, 2009, Cape Cobras captain Andrew Puttick hit the first century of the inaugural Champions League T20.Puttick’s century steered Cobras to a commanding 193 for four. The Cobras captain was ruthless with every bowler, clobbering 12 fours and 3 sixes.The Hundred 2022- Will Smeed (101)Will Smeed wrote his name in the history books, hitting the first hundred of the men’s Hundred in 2022. Smeed’s 50-ball 101 helped Birmingham Phoenix thrash the previous edition’s champions, Southern Brave, by 53 runs.Smeed announced himself to the world as a young player to watch with the knock, as he also remains the youngest centurion in The Hundred. CPL 2014- Chris Gayle (111)After a dismal performance in the IPL 2014, Chris Gayle came back in form with an unbeaten 111 against St Lucia Zouks. Chasing a moderate target of 162, the Man of the Match, Gayle hit the tournament’s first-ever century in just 63 balls.After he bought up his 50 off 30 balls, he took the same number of balls to complete the ton, eventually overhauling the target with an over to spare.BBL 2011- David Warner (102)Fresh off a maiden Test hundred, David Warner blasted 102 off 51 balls, including six sixes and six fours, to lead Thunder to a six-wicket victory against the Melbourne Stars.Also read: David Warner To Make Nepal Premier League Debut This YearThe iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) witnessed Warner on a mission, who scored the first hundred in the league’s history.SA20 2023- Faf du Plessis (113)The Joburg Super Kings captain, Faf du Plessis, etched his name in the history books on January 24, 2023, becoming the first player to score a hundred in SA20.Du Plessis, who has never scored a century in the Indian Premier League, achieved the feat in 54 balls as he powered Joburg to an 8-wicket win over the Durban's Super Giants.LPL 2020- Laurie Evans (108)In the match 18 of the Lanka Premier League 2020, Laurie Evans delivered the first century of the tournament as his unbeaten 65-ball 108 powered the Colombo Kings to a six-run win over the Jaffna Stallions.Notably, Evans’ innings was the quintessential slow-brunder, a run-a-ball start followed by a gradual shifting of gears towards the business end of the knock.ILT20 2023- Alex Hales (110)Desert Vipers’ Alex Hales lit up the Zayed Cricket Stadium through a whirlwind century (110 runs off just 59 balls) studded with seven boundaries and six sixes, to power his team to a massive 111-run win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ninth match of the International League T20 2023.With his knock, the 6ft 5inch tall England opener earned the honour of becoming the first century maker of this tournament.ETPL 2026- James Vince (106)On the final day of the European T20 Premier League league stage, James Vince made history, becoming the first batter to score a century in the competition. Thanks to his knock, Dublin Guardians chased down Rotterdam Dockers’ 188 for five to win by five wickets with six balls remaining.Vince reached his century from 56 balls, finishing unbeaten on 106 with 10 fours and five sixes. His strike rate of 173.77 kept Dublin ahead of the required rate through the closing stages, and the Guardians reached 192 for five after 19 overs.Also read: India Predicted Playing XI vs Japan: One-Off T20I, India Tour Of Japan 2026
