Finn Allen finally comes to party after six games with maiden IPL hundred during DC vs KKR; joins elite company
Riding on Finn Allen's 100 not out, Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Delhi Capitals by eight wickets in IPL 2026. With this hundred, Allen became the fourth KKR batter to score a century in IPL after Brendon McCullum, Venkatesh Iyer and Sunil Narine.
Finn Allen finally came to the party after six attempts for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as the New Zealander smashed his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) hundred to seal his team's eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals on Friday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Bought for a steal price of ₹2 crore during the auction, Allen showed his true potential with a 33-ball hundred against South Africa in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2026.
But unlike his T20 World Cup 2026 form, Allen couldn't make a mark for KKR. In the six games he played before the cclash against Delhi, the hard-hitting right-hander's top score was 37 against Mumbai Indians at Wanlhede. But on Friday, Allen showed his class and waited for the loose balls to be dispatched in the stands.
Chasing a below par total of 143, KKR lost Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi inside the powerplay, but Allen, along with Cameron Green ensured no more hiccups. The Kiwi was most brutal among the two and completed his fifty with a six off Australian Mitchell Starc in the 11th over in 32 deliveries. But what he did next was unthinkable.
Quick answers to key questions
Finn Allen scored his maiden IPL hundred in 47 balls against Delhi Capitals, remaining not out at 100. He smashed five fours and 10 sixes, including a rapid second fifty in just 15 balls.
Finn Allen became the fourth KKR batter to score an IPL hundred and the first New Zealander to score three T20 hundreds in a calendar year (2026). He also hit the third most sixes by a KKR batter in an IPL innings.
Before his maiden hundred, Finn Allen had played six games for KKR without making a significant mark, with his top score being 37 against Mumbai Indians.
Besides Finn Allen, the other KKR batters to have scored an IPL hundred are Brendon McCullum, Venkatesh Iyer, and Sunil Narine.
Finn Allen's unbeaten century guided KKR to an eight-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals, chasing a target of 143. He ensured no further hiccups after KKR lost two early wickets.
The right-hander raced to his next fifty in just 15 balls, including a hattrick of sixes off Viprag Nigam. With three runs to win in the last six overs and Allen stranded at 94, Green took a single off Mukesh Kumar in the 15th over. Allen, then smashed a six to finish the game and bring up his maiden IPL hundred in style. He remained not out at 100 in 47 balls.
Finn Allen joined elite KKR company
With this hundred, Allen joined an elite company, as he became the fourth KKR batter to score a hundred in IPL. New Zealand's Brendon McCullum was the first KKR batter to score an IPL hundred (very first match of IPL in 2008), before Venkatesh Iyer and Sunil Narine scored one each in 2023 and 2024 editions respectively.
With this win, KKR registered their fourth consecutive victory and also rose a spot in the IPL 2026 points table to be placed seventh with nine points from 10 games. In his innings, Allen smashed five fours and 10 sixes.
KKR batters with IPL hundreds
| Player | Score | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brendon McCullum | 158 not out (73b) | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2008 |
| Venkatesh Iyer | 104 (51b) | Mumbai Indians | 2023 |
| Sunil Narine | 109 (56b) | Rajasthan Royals | 2024 |
| Finn Allen | 100 not out (47b) | Delhi Capitals | 2026 |
More records for Finn Allen
With this hundred, Allen became the first New Zealander to score three T20 hundreds in a calendar year (2026). He started with a 101 (53) for Perth Scorchers in Australian Big Bash League, followed by his ton in the T20 World Cup 2026, followed by his maiden IPL hundred
Surprisingly, Allen also became the second New Zealand cricketer to score an IPL hundred, after McCullum (one for KKR and Chennai Super Kings). Allen's 10 sixes against Delhi Capitals also puts him in third spot in the list for most sixes by a KKR batter in an IPL innings.
McCullum tops the list with 13 sixes against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (in 2008), followed by Andre Russell (11 against CSK in 2018).
Catch the live updates from IPL 2026 with the complete IPL 2026 Schedule and the IPL 2026 Points Table. Also, know who are currently leading the charts in IPL 2026 Orange Cap and IPL 2026 Purple Cap.
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Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
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