Batsmen with Most Centuries in ODI Cricket
Jun 6, 2019 at 11:56 AM
One-day International (ODI) cricket is beyond sensationalism; it’s more about being pragmatic in approach. Before talking about the most centuries in ODI cricket, the day-long format has had entertained the spectators worldwide. It has always been an exciting limited-overs competition to allow fans–to vouch for the favourite teams respectively apart from witnessing the ODI century list.
Earlier, the ODI cricket comprised of 60 overs per innings. However, when the world governing body International Cricket Council (ICC) established the new rules and regulations, it eventually saw some uniformity as 50 overs per side had emerged as a norm.
It’s pertinent to mention, as many as 12 Test-playing nationals are the Full-time members of the Dubai-based board. As many as four teams were granted a temporary status in the limited-overs leg which includes the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
To be precise, the coveted ICC’s events had been icing on the cake. With the wrestling of top-notch teams, ace players have had risen their bar to become standout performers.
However, coming back to most hundreds in ODI cricket, once again, Tendulkar is toping, yet another blockbuster list after retiring from the ODIs, way back in 2012. Such is his legacy.
While taking a close look at the top 10 list, three Indians have made it to the list, and current Indian National Cricket Team skipper Virat Kohli is in a race to catch none other than his idol Tendulkar.
Interestingly, three Sri Lankan retired cricketers are featuring on the list. Moreover, there’re two players from South Africa and one each from Australia and the Windies on the top ten list.
Here’s the list of top ten players with most centuries in ODI cricket:
- Sachin Tendulkar:
Sachin Tendulkar’s ODI career spanned over 23 years which further saw him breaking and then setting up multiple records, that too, one after another. And there lies some satisfaction while reaching to that pinnacle in particular.
In record-setting 463 ODIs, Tendulkar amassed staggering 18,426 runs in 452 innings at an average of 44.83. Further, he tops the list of most centuries in ODI cricket with 49 tons.
The former Indian batsman further racked up 96 fifties. Similarly, he smashed 2016 fours and 195 sixes during his entire ODI career.
- Virat Kohli:
Jeez, Virat Kohli, the pace at which he’s going and time is not that far when he will surpass stalwart like Tendulkar regarding most hundreds in ODI history.
So much so, batting giant Kohli had been into an international scene for ten years now, but he had already bagged plenty of records to become a captain marvel.
Consequently, the 29-year-old Kohli had so far played just 216 ODIs in which he scored 10,861 runs at an impressive average of 59.83.
As the records galore, Kohli had maintained his rich vein of form which further saw him smashing 41 hundred in 228 innings.
- Ricky Ponting:
During his time with Australia National Cricket Team, Ricky Ponting had played a pivotal role as a batsman and then as a leader.
Listed third on the list of players with most centuries in ODI cricket, Ponting often proved his point in the middle while donning the Aussie colors.
In 375 ODIs which comprised of 365 innings, he registered 30 hundred. Furthermore, Ponting scored 13,704 runs at an average of 43.03 which eventually saw him registering 82 half-centuries.
Also, Ponting registered 1,231 fours and 162 sixes during his 17-year-long ODI career.
- Sanath Jayasuriya:
Audacious in nature, Sanath Jayasuriya had a pull-shot as his trademark. The swashbuckling left-handed batsman neutralized any of the threat with his attacking approach early on.
Jayasuriya, who represented Sri Lanka in 445 ODIs went on to score 13,430 at an average of 32.36. With 28 hundred, 68 fifties, 1500 fours and 270 sixes; this is how Jayasuriya’s number address his ODI career.
- Hashim Amla:
How many times you’ve witnessed Hashim Amla steadying the ship of South Africa? I would say many-a-times. His reputation of playing the brand of cricket sets him apart from the other players.
The classic Proteas character had so far featured in 169 ODIs in which he registered 7,929 runs at an average of49.25 runs.
In 176 ODI innings, Amla, who’s known for his calm approach had so far 27 ODI hundreds under his belt.
- AB de Villiers:
Known as the 360-degree man, AB de Villiers is almost in everyone’s favorite list. And such is the charm of this South African cricketer.
Likewise, for doing a remarkable job with the bat, de Villiers equally stepped in, to contribute in the field.
Acrobatic cricketer had taken some spectacular catches during his international leg including donning the gloves behind stumps.
Known for having a wide range for shot selection, de Villiers played 228 ODIs for the Proteas in which he made 218 appearances at the crease.
The prominent cricketer smashed 25 ODI hundreds and 53 fifties as he maintained his strike-rate over hundred. However, overall in ODIs, he scored 9,577 runs.
- Kumar Sangakkara:
The coveted list of batsmen with most centuries in ODI cricket would look monotonous if a player like Kumar Sangakkara has had missed out to feature on the coveted list.
To be precise, it would have been a tragedy for sport in a nutshell.
Veteran Lanka cricketer represented his nation in 404 ODIs which comprised of 380 innings. He scored 14,234 runs at an average of 41.98. Like, de Villiers Sangakkara had racked up 25 tons which further saw him scoring 93 half-centuries.
The left-handed veteran batsman Sangakkara has been optimistic about the things whenever he struggled to perform in the international circuit.
Overall, Sangakkara smashed 1385 fours and 88 sixes in his ODI appearances.
- Chris Gayle:
Chris Gayle is known for his belligerent hitting in the limited-overs leg. He is the only Windies to make it to the top ten ODI century list.
Gayle, who featured in 290 ODIs, scored 11,333 runs at an average of 37.12. In 290 innings, Gayle went on to smash 25 ODI hundreds for the Caribbean team. Backing his attacking mindset, Gayle smashed 1073 fours and 275 sixes.
Gayle, who has been in and out of the national team, further set the domestic professional leagues on fire with his pyrotechnics.
- Sourav Ganguly:
The charismatic character from Bengal, Sourav Ganguly spectacularly led India during his tenure as a skipper. The left-handed batsman Ganguly further represented his nation between 1992 and 2007. Also, he played 311 ODIs (300 innings) to score 11,363 runs at an average of 41.02. He had also registered 22 hundred apart from 72 half-centuries.
The highlight of his leadership has been his approach toward the teammates. Ganguly further instilled confidence among the youngsters from time-to-time.
- Tillakaratne Dilshan:
The inventor of dilscoop shot Tillakaratne Dilshan had has been a livewire on the field. Moreover, known for his aggressive stroke play, Dilshan has maintained his tenth spot on the list of players with most centuries in ODIs.
Dilshan represented the Lions in overall 330 ODIs in which he scored 10,290 runs at an average of 39.27. In 303 innings, Dilshan registered 22 hundred to be at par with Ganguly in the ODI century list.
In addition to, Dilshan further has 1,111 fours and 55 sixes to his name. But we are bound to witness changes in the most ODI centuries list sooner.
Table with list of minimum 50 players who scored most hundreds in ODI cricket:
Serial No. | Player Name | Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | 100’s |
1 | SR Tendulkar (INDIA) | 463 | 452 | 18426 | 200* | 44.83 | 49 |
2 | V Kohli (INDIA) | 228 | 220 | 10861 | 183 | 59.35 | 38 |
3 | RT Ponting (AUS/IC) | 375 | 365 | 13704 | 164 | 42.03 | 30 |
4 | ST Jayasuriya (Asia/SL) | 445 | 433 | 13430 | 189 | 32.36 | 28 |
5 | HM Amla (SA) | 176 | 176 | 7929 | 159 | 49.65 | 26 |
6 | AB de Villiers (Afr/SA) | 228 | 218 | 9577 | 176 | 53.5 | 25 |
7 | KC Sangakkara (Asia/ICC/SL) | 404 | 380 | 14234 | 169 | 41.98 | 25 |
8 | CH Gayle (ICC/WI) | 290 | 285 | 10201 | 215 | 37.12 | 23 |
9 | SC Ganguly (Asia/INDIA) | 311 | 300 | 11363 | 183 | 41.02 | 22 |
10 | TM Dilshan (SL) | 330 | 303 | 10290 | 161* | 39.27 | 22 |
11 | RG Sharma (INDIA) | 207 | 207 | 8110 | 264 | 47.78 | 21 |
12 | HH Gibbs (SA) | 248 | 240 | 8094 | 175 | 36.13 | 21 |
13 | Saeed Anwar (PAK) | 247 | 244 | 8824 | 194 | 39.21 | 20 |
14 | LRPL Taylor (NZ) | 207 | 192 | 7433 | 181* | 47.04 | 19 |
15 | BC Lara (ICC/WI) | 299 | 289 | 10405 | 169 | 40.48 | 19 |
16 | DPMD Jayawardene (Asia/SL) | 448 | 418 | 12650 | 144 | 33.37 | 19 |
17 | ME Waugh (AUS) | 244 | 236 | 8500 | 173 | 39.35 | 18 |
18 | DL Haynes (WI) | 238 | 237 | 8648 | 152* | 41.37 | 17 |
19 | JH Kallis (Afr/ICC/SA) | 328 | 314 | 11579 | 139 | 44.36 | 17 |
20 | NJ Astle (NZ) | 223 | 217 | 7090 | 145* | 34.92 | 16 |
21 | AC Gilchrist (AUS/ICC) | 287 | 279 | 9619 | 172 | 35.89 | 16 |
22 | S Dhawan (INDIA) | 115 | 114 | 4935 | 137 | 45.69 | 15 |
23 | WU Tharanga (Asia/SL) | 232 | 220 | 6936 | 174* | 34.16 | 15 |
24 | V Sehwag (Asia/ICC/INDIA) | 251 | 245 | 8273 | 219 | 35.05 | 15 |
25 | Mohammad Yousuf (Asia/PAK) | 288 | 273 | 9720 | 141* | 41.71 | 15 |
26 | DA Warner (AUS) | 106 | 104 | 4343 | 179 | 43.43 | 14 |
27 | Yuvraj Singh (Asia/INDIA) | 304 | 278 | 8701 | 150 | 36.55 | 14 |
28 | Q de Kock (SA) | 98 | 98 | 4133 | 178 | 44.44 | 13 |
29 | JE Root (ENG) | 121 | 115 | 4946 | 133* | 51.52 | 13 |
30 | MJ Guptill (NZ) | 159 | 156 | 5976 | 237* | 42.99 | 13 |
31 | G Kirsten (SA) | 185 | 185 | 6798 | 188* | 40.95 | 13 |
32 | ME Trescothick (ENG) | 123 | 122 | 4335 | 137 | 37.37 | 12 |
33 | R Dravid (Asia/ICC/INDIA) | 344 | 318 | 10889 | 153 | 39.16 | 12 |
34 | AJ Finch (AUS) | 96 | 92 | 3418 | 148 | 37.56 | 11 |
35 | WTS Porterfield (IRE) | 122 | 120 | 3722 | 139 | 31.81 | 11 |
36 | KS Williamson (NZ) | 129 | 123 | 5184 | 145* | 46.28 | 11 |
37 | CG Greenidge (WI) | 128 | 127 | 5134 | 133* | 45.03 | 11 |
38 | G Gambhir (INDIA) | 147 | 143 | 5238 | 150* | 39.68 | 11 |
39 | IVA Richards (WI) | 187 | 167 | 6721 | 189* | 47 | 11 |
40 | Tamim Iqbal (BDESH) | 185* | 183 | 6369 | 154 | 36.18 | 11 |
41 | EJG Morgan (ENG/IRE) | 212 | 199 | 6557 | 124* | 38.57 | 11 |
42 | Mohammad Hafeez (PAK) | 203 | 202 | 6153 | 140* | 32.72 | 11 |
43 | S Chanderpaul (WI) | 268 | 251 | 8778 | 150 | 41.6 | 11 |
44 | MS Atapattu (SL) | 268 | 259 | 8529 | 132* | 37.57 | 11 |
45 | PA de Silva (SL) | 308 | 296 | 9284 | 145 | 34.9 | 11 |
46 | F du Plessis (SA) | 124 | 119 | 4693 | 185 | 45.12 | 10 |
47 | ML Hayden (AUS/ICC) | 161 | 155 | 6133 | 181* | 43.8 | 10 |
48 | BRM Taylor (ZIM) | 188 | 187 | 6156 | 145* | 35.79 | 10 |
49 | MN Samuels (WI) | 206 | 195 | 5587 | 133* | 33.05 | 10 |
50 | GC Smith (SA) | 197 | 194 | 6989 | 141 | 37.98 | 10 |