Top 10 Non-Retired Batsmen With Most Number Of Centuries In ODI Cricket

When we think of centuries, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Sanath Jayasuriya are the names that come in our minds. Arguably, the aforementioned greats had made scoring tons a habit and mustered at will. Tendulkar, Ponting, and Jayasuriya have 107 ODI centuries in total.

Also Read: Indian Batsmen Who Have Hit Centuries In Both Innings Of A Test Match

But the modern-day batsmen aren’t far behind either in that respect. The inception of the T20 version and batsmen adopting the short-format approach has helped them in piling up centuries at a rapid rate. As a matter of fact, in the upcoming few months or years, two active batsmen might occupy the first two places for the most number of centuries in ODIs.

We take a look at top ten active batsmen with most number centuries in 50-over international cricket:

10. Quinton de Kock – 15

South Africa’s limited-overs captain Quinton de Kock occupies the tenth position with 15 centuries in 121 ODIs. De Kock is not only technically a competent batsman but also takes the attack to the opposition from the get-go. De Kock could be called as the modern-day Adam Gilchrist, who keeps wickets, opens the innings, and goes after the bowlers straight away.

Having made his ODI debut in 2013, the 27-year old has 5135 runs at an average of 44.65. Amongst the 15 tons, the left-handed batsman’s highest score came against Australia at Centurion in 2013. His first success as the full-time stint Proteas’ captain also arrived against Australia in February this year, having won an ODI series by 3-0.

9. Joe Root – 16

English Test captain Joe Root also makes it to the elusive list, having scored 5922 runs in 146 ODIs so far. Root sits second to his limited-overs captain, Eoin Morgan, for most runs in 50-over cricket for England. While Joe Root isn’t a whirlwind batsman, capable of hitting sixes at will; he relies on confident grounded shots and swift running between the wickets.

The 29-year old has piled up 16 centuries in his 146-ODI tenure so far, having debuted in 2013. The Yorkshire-born has consistently averaged well over 50 in the last four years in ODI cricket. The 2019 World Cup transpired with the right-handed batsman scoring 556 runs in 11 games with two hundreds and three fifties.

8. Martin Guptill – 16

As elegant and stylish as it gets, Martin Guptill relies on pure timing to earn his runs. Martin Guptill has established himself as a regular fixture in New Zealand’s white-ball setup, proving himself as a reliable opening batsman. Having made his ODI debut in 2009, the 33-year old has amassed over 6500 runs in only 183 fixtures.

The 183 ODIs have produced 16 centuries, including reaching three-figures on his first appearance. Guptill’s most recent hundred came in February 2019 against Bangladesh when he scored 118 off 88 deliveries. The Auckland-born’s score of 237 is also the second-highest individual one in men’s ODI cricket.

7. Aaron Finch – 16

Australia’s limited-overs skipper Aaron Finch occupies the seventh spot in the list. Finch is attacking and an aggressive batsman, who is exceptionally strong on the backfoot. With 4882 runs in 126 ODIs so far, he is one of the most experienced players in the Australian line-up.

Aaron Finch took over as Australia’s full-time white-ball captain in 2018, having guided them till the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup. As far as scoring centuries go, the Victorian has 16 under his repertoire too. The 33-year old’s highest score of 153* came against Pakistan in Sharjah in March 2019.

6. Shikhar Dhawan – 17

Shikhar Dhawan has proved himself as a big-match player and one of the classiest left-handed batsmen. Dhawan’s career has been marred with injuries; however, he has made his chances count and crafted several match-winning knocks.

Along with Rohit Sharma, Dhawan has metamorphosised India as one of the best chasing sides and they have been one of the successful opening pairs. In only 136 ODIs, the 34-year old has 5688 runs alongside 17 centuries. Shikhar Dhawan’s highest score of 143 came against Australia in March 2019 in Mohali, which resulted in a losing cause.

5. David Warner – 18

Aaron Finch’s opening partner David Warner is one of the swashbuckling players in the world. David Warner boasts of a wide array of strokes in his repertoire and believes in putting the bowlers under pressure straight away. Having made his ODI debut in 2009, the left-handed batsman has featured in 123 fixtures.

The 123 games have produced 5267 runs alongside 18 tons at 45.80. Warner’s most recent hundred came against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. His highest score of 179 arrived against Pakistan in January 2017 at the Adelaide Oval. The knock of 179 came off 128 deliveries that comprised of 19 fours and five sixes.

4. Ross Taylor – 21

Former New Zeland captain Ross Taylor is undeniably one of the underrated batsmen but one of the modern-day greats. Taylor has been a reliable, solid as a rock middle-order batsman for the national team, capable of taking the matches deep for his side during chases. Taylor has so far featured in 232 ODIs.

The 232 ODIs has yielded a tally of 8574 runs at a robust average of 48.44 alongside 21 centuries, which is the most by a Kiwi player. The 36-year old’s highest score of unbeaten 181 came against England in March 2018 in Dunedin. Taylor’s 181 helped the hosts overhaul a stiff target of 336 with five wickets to spare.

3. Chris Gayle – 25

Chris Gayle made his ODI debut back in September 1999 and inevitably one of the most experienced players as of today. While Gayle might not be part of the ODI set up moving forward, he tops the run-scoring charts and possesses the most number of centuries for West Indies.

The Jamaican has featured in 301 ODIs, amassing 10480 runs alongside a whopping 25 centuries. Amongst the 25 centuries, the left-handed batsman also carted a double hundred (215) against Zimbabwe in the 2015 World Cup.

2. Rohit Sharma – 29

Rohit Sharma has transformed into nothing less than a colossus in ODI cricket, establishing himself as one of the best openers in the format. The promotion to the opening position was the turning point of Rohit Sharma’s career. The 33-year old’s over 7000 out of 9115 career runs have come while batting at the top-order.

The 217 ODI fixtures have produced 29 centuries out of which Rohit struck 27 while opening the batting. India’s limited-overs vice-captain has three double-centuries in the version, including a score of 264, which remains unbreached thus far. He is two tons away from leaving behind the Australian great, Ricky Ponting.

1. Virat Kohli – 43

The present generation belongs to Virat Kohli as far as ODI cricket is concerned. The Indian captain is the most prized wicket for any opposition in a One-day international game. Kohli bats at number three and takes the attack to the opposing side from the get-go, especially during lofty run-chases.

In 248 ODIs so far, Virat Kohli has 11867 runs, averaging 59.33 with a strike rate of 93.25. The 31-year old has raced to 43 centuries of which 26 have come while batting second. Kohli’s highest score of 183 came against Pakistan in Dhaka in 2012 when India had to chase 330. The Indian skipper is the first in line to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record of 49 ODI hundreds.

Also Read: Batsmen Who Have Scored Centuries In All Three Formats

(All Stats Updated Till 7th June, 2020)