Top 10: Most Centuries in ODI Cricket

Indian batters lead the chart of the most centuries in ODI Cricket. Virat Kohli has scored 50 centuries, which is the most number of centuries in ODI cricket

In this article, we will talk about the top 10 batters with the most centuries in ODI cricket.

10. David Warner (Australia) | 22 Centuries

David Warner scored 22 ODI centuries in 161 matches. The left-hand opener averaged over 45 and struck at a rate of around 100. He was known for his aggressive batting.

Warner’s first ODI century came in 2012 against Sri Lanka, where he scored 163 runs from 157 balls. Warner opened the innings for Australia.

Once Wade departed, Australia started to lose wickets at a regular interval, but Warner carried his bat till the last ball of the innings.

He was dismissed by Dhamika Prasad. Australia posted 321 runs on the board and won the match by 15 runs.

9. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) | 25 Centuries

Former Sri Lanka captain and wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Sangakkara scored 25 centuries in his ODI career of 404 matches, scoring 14234 runs at an average of 42 and a strike rate of 79.

In his last Cricket World Cup in 2015, Sanga smashed 4 consecutive hundreds, helping his team reach the quarterfinals of the tournament. The wicketkeeper-batter scored his 25th ODI hundred against Scotland in the CWC 2015.

8. Chris Gayle (West Indies) | 25 Centuries

Former West Indies opener Chris Gayle scored 25 ODI hundreds from 301 matches and scored 10480 runs at an average of 38 and a strike rate of 87.

Out of 25, Gayle scored 12 centuries while chasing the target and his 25th hundred also came in a run chase against England in 2019.

England, batting first, gave a huge target of 419 runs to the West Indies. Chris Gayle played one of the greatest knocks in a losing cause.

The left-hander smashed 162 runs from 97 balls, a knock consisting of 14 sixes. Gayle completed his fifty from 32 balls, and in the next 23 balls, he reached his century.

Gayle was hitting all the bowlers equally before getting bowled by Stokes in the 34th over of the innings. The West Indies lost the match by 18 runs.

7. AB de Villiers (South Africa) | 25 Centuries

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers scored 25 ODI hundreds in 228 matches and scored 9577 runs at an average of 53 and a strike rate of 101.

All 25 centuries of de Villiers came at a strike rate of over 100. ABD’s 25th ODI century was also his best ODI score when he scored 176 runs against Bangladesh at Boland Park, Paarl.

South Africa, batting first, posted a total of 353/6 runs in their 50 overs. ABD came out to bat in the 18th over, scoring 176 runs from 104 balls. Bangladesh, chasing a 354-run target, lost the match by 149 runs.

6. Hashim Amla (South Africa) | 27 Centuries

Former South Africa opener Hashim Amla was one of the finest batters in ODIs, scoring 27 centuries and 8113 runs at an average of 49 in 181 matches.

Amla reached 27 centuries in 167 innings, becoming the fastest batter, breaking Kohli’s record of 169 innings. 

Hashim Amla, on a slow track at St. George’s Park, Port Elizabeth, reached his 27th ODI hundred from 113 balls.

Also Read | The Ten Greatest T20 Batters

5. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) | 28 Centuries

Sanath Jayasuriya, the former opener of Sri Lanka, scored 28 centuries in his ODI career of 375 matches and scored 13430 runs at an average of 32 and a strike rate of 91.

The left-hander was known for his aggressive batting style. His highest score of 189 runs in ODIs came against India in 2000 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah.

4. Ricky Ponting (Australia) | 30 Centuries

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting scored 30 ODI hundreds in 375 matches and scored 13704 runs at an average of 42 and a strike rate of 80.

Ricky Ponting played a big role in leading Australia to the 2003 Cricket World Cup win. He smashed 140 runs from 121 balls against India in the final match, a knock where he smashed 8 sixes and 4 boundaries.

He hit Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan throughout the innings and never let the spinners settle. Australia posted 359/2 runs from 50 overs and India lost the match by 125 runs.

3. Rohit Sharma (India) | 31 Centuries

Rohit Sharma went past Ponting’s tally in the Cricket World Cup 2023 while facing Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley stadium in Delhi.

Rohit has played over 260 ODIs, scoring more than 10000 runs at an average of around 50 and a strike rate of over 90, including 31 ODI hundreds. He has also smashed the highest individual score in 50-over cricket (264 vs Sri Lanka).

The right-hander’s most recent ODI ton came against Afghanistan, when he smashed 131 runs from 84 balls in a run chase of 273 runs. Rohit reached his century in just 65 balls, completing it in the 18th over of the innings by taking a single off Nabi’s bowling.

The Indian captain took Afghanistan’s new-ball bowlers to the cleaners and helped India score 94 runs in the first power play. He was finally dismissed by Rashid Khan but India won the match by 8 wickets with 90 balls remaining.

2. Sachin Tendulkar (India) | 49 Centuries

Former Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar scored 49 ODI hundreds in his 464-match career, scoring 18426 runs — the most runs in ODIs — at an average of 45 and a strike rate of 86.

Sachin reached his 49th Century in 2012 but before that, he played a major role in India’s Cricket World Cup win in 2011.

Sachin’s 47th and 48th hundred came in the CWC 2011 against South Africa and England. He was also India’s highest run scorer in the tournament with 482 runs from 9 innings at an average of 53.

Sachin’s first ODI hundred came against Australia in 1994 and scored 122 against South Africa to reach his 25th hundred in 2000. 

1. Virat Kohli (India) | 50 Centuries

Virat Kohli is the batter with the most centuries in ODI cricket. He went past Sachin Tendulkar’s ODI hundred tally in the CWC 2023 Semi-Final against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium.

Virat has played over 290, scoring over 13000 runs at an average of more than 55 and a strike rate over 92.

Kohli’s first ODI hundred came against Sri Lanka in 2009. His 25th hundred came against Australia in 2016 and his 50th Century in 2023 against New Zealand.

Out of 50 centuries, Virat has scored 10 against Sri Lanka, 9 against the West Indies, and 8 against Australia.