Top 5 batters with most centuries in ODIs

Here are the top 10 batsmen with the most ODI centuries. The list contains four Indians.

Top 5 batters with most centuries in ODIs

Virat Kohli (Image via ESPNcricinfo)

List A cricket, or more commonly known as One Day Cricket, is a format that was formed in 1963. It was formed as the cricket world needed a format that wouldn’t go on for days, like Tests and first class matches. 

In 1971, the first International First Class or One Day International match was played between Australia and England in the Melbourne Cricket Ground. In the 52 years this format has been played internationally, and it has seen various star batsmen from all around the world. But only a few were so good that they used to score centuries for fun. 

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Here are the top 10 batsmen with the most ODI centuries:

PositionNameCountry Centuries
10Sourav Ganguly India22
9Kumar Sangakkara Sri Lanka25
8Chris Gayle West Indies25
7AB de VilliersSouth Africa25
6Hashim AmlaSouth Africa27
5Sanath Jayasuriya Sri Lanka28
4Ricky Ponting Australia30
3Rohit SharmaIndia 31
2Sachin Tendulkar India49
1Virat KohliIndia50

Top 5 batsmen with the most centuries in ODIs

5. Sanath Jayasuriya (1989-2011, 28 centuries)

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Sanath Jayasuriya (Image via getty)

Sanath Jayasuriya is one of the greatest ODI batsmen to embrace the game. In the 90s, he was known for his attacking and ball striking abilities that revolutionized ODI cricket to the format it is now. In his career that spanned over 22 years, he scored 28 centuries, with his highest coming against India in Sharjah, where he scored 189 runs. 

4. Ricky Ponting (1995-2012, 30 centuries)

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Ricky Ponting in action for Australia (Image via ICC)

Former Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, has scored 30 centuries in 365 innings. He is regarded as the greatest ODI captain as well, winning the ODI World Cup twice as captain. Known for his aggressive nature on the field, he used to keep this aggressive nature when he wasn’t batting as well. His highest score, 164, came against South Africa as Australia scored the highest total in ODI cricket, which was 434/4. That record only lasted a few hours as South Africa chased it down with a ball to spare. 

3. Rohit Sharma (2007-2023, 31 centuries)

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Rohit Sharma after scoring 264 (Image via cricket addictor)

Until 2013, Rohit Sharma was never a fixed member of the Indian playing 11. He was finally slotted in as an opener and in those 10 years as an opener he scored 28 centuries. He is the only batsman with 3 double centuries, with his highest coming against Sri Lanka where he scored 264.

2. Sachin Tendulkar (1989-2012, 49 centuries)

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Sachin Tendulkar becomes the first batsman to score a double century (Image via NDTV Sports)

This man needs no introduction. He is regarded as the “God of Cricket” and is often called the greatest batsman to ever play the sport. Tendulkar in his 24 years as an international cricketer played 463 ODIs, scoring 18426 runs and 49 centuries. He was also the first male batsman to score an ODI double century. His highest came against South Africa, where he scored his first and only 200.

1. Virat Kohli (2008-2023, 50 centuries)

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Virat Kohli during his 183 against Pakistan (Image via Hindustan Times)

Virat Kohli is called the greatest batsman of his generation. Just like Ricky Ponting, he is known for his aggressive nature while batting and fielding. He doesn’t score runs by hitting boundaries, but by running between the wickets and is regarded as one of the greatest chasers in limited overs cricket. He has 50 centuries, with his highest coming against Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup, where he had scored 183. 

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