Most Centuries in ODI: Ranking the Top 10 Batsmen
One Day Internationals (ODIs) are an exciting and popular form of cricket, where teams battle for supremacy in a limited-overs format. Scoring centuries in ODIs is a difficult task, and only the greatest batsmen have been able to achieve this feat. Here, we rank the top 10 batsmen with the most centuries in ODIs.
Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar, the ‘God of Cricket’, tops the list of batsmen with the most centuries in ODIs. He scored 49 ODI centuries, with the highest being an unbeaten 186 against New Zealand in 1999. He also holds the record for most ODI runs, with 18,426, and most ODI matches, with 463.
Virat Kohli
The current Indian skipper, Virat Kohli, is second on the list with 43 ODI centuries. He has been in sublime form in the past few years, and has broken many records in the process. He recently became the fastest batsman to reach 10,000 ODI runs, and is the fastest to score 20 centuries in ODIs. His highest score in ODIs is 183 against Pakistan in 2012.
Ricky Ponting
The former Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, is third on the list with 30 ODI centuries. He has scored the most runs for Australia in ODIs, with 13,704. His highest score in ODIs is 164 against South Africa in 2006. Ponting was an aggressive batsman, and he was renowned for his ability to take the attack to the opposition.
Sanath Jayasuriya
The former Sri Lankan opener, Sanath Jayasuriya, is fourth on the list with 28 ODI centuries. He was known for his aggressive batting, and he revolutionized the way openers play in ODIs. His highest score in ODIs is 189 against India in 2000. Jayasuriya is also the first batsman to score over 10,000 runs in ODIs.
Sourav Ganguly
The former Indian captain, Sourav Ganguly, is fifth on the list with 22 ODI centuries. He was an aggressive batsman, and was known for his ability to take the attack to the opposition. His highest score in ODIs is 183 against Sri Lanka in 1999. Ganguly was also the first Indian batsman to score a century in a World Cup match.
Chris Gayle
The Jamaican batsman, Chris Gayle, is sixth on the list with 21 ODI centuries. He is known for his big-hitting and aggressive batting style, and is the only batsman to have scored a double century in ODIs. His highest score in ODIs is 215 against Zimbabwe in 2015. He is also the only batsman to score 10,000 runs in T20 cricket.
Brian Lara
The former West Indian captain, Brian Lara, is seventh on the list with 19 ODI centuries. He is one of the greatest batsmen of all time, and was known for his ability to score runs quickly. His highest score in ODIs is 169 against Bangladesh in 1999. He is also the only batsman to score a quadruple century in Tests.
Jacques Kallis
The former South African all-rounder, Jacques Kallis, is eighth on the list with 17 ODI centuries. He was a very consistent batsman, and was known for his ability to score runs quickly. His highest score in ODIs is 139 against West Indies in 2005. He is also the only player to have scored over 11,000 runs and taken over 250 wickets in Tests.
AB de Villiers
The former South African captain, AB de Villiers, is ninth on the list with 16 ODI centuries. He was known for his innovative and attacking batting style, and was one of the most destructive batsmen in the world. His highest score in ODIs is 176 against West Indies in 2015. He is also the fastest batsman to reach 8,000 runs in ODIs.
Tillakaratne Dilshan
The former Sri Lankan batsman, Tillakaratne Dilshan, is tenth on the list with 15 ODI centuries. He was an aggressive batsman, and was known for his ability to score runs quickly. His highest score in ODIs is 160 against India in 2009. He is also the only batsman to score a ‘Dilscoop’ in international cricket.
These batsmen have all achieved the feat of scoring centuries in ODIs, and have gone down in history as some of the greatest batsmen of all time. Their records are a testament to their skill and determination, and they will be remembered for many years to come.