Scoring a century in international cricket is a significant achievement, highlighting a batter's consistency and skill. This feat often leads to celebrated moments on the field, capturing the essence of cricketing greatness. Here’s a look at the top five batters who have amassed the most hundreds across all formats of international cricket:
At the top of the list is India’s batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, the only cricketer to have scored 100 international hundreds. Tendulkar's illustrious career includes 51 centuries in Test cricket from 200 matches, accumulating 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78. In ODIs, he scored 49 centuries from 463 matches, with 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83. Tendulkar’s solitary T20I appearance yielded 10 runs. His unparalleled record across formats exemplifies his remarkable skill and enduring legacy in international cricket.
Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli ranks second with an impressive 80 international centuries. His career includes 113 Test matches in which he has scored 29 centuries, accumulating 8,848 runs at an average of 49.15. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), Kohli has achieved 50 centuries from 295 matches, amassing 13,906 runs at an average of 58.18, making him the first batter to reach 50 centuries in ODIs. In Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), Kohli added one century to his tally before retiring from the format after the 2024 T20 World Cup. His remarkable consistency and adaptability across formats underscore his exceptional career.
Australian great Ricky Ponting holds the third position with a remarkable 71 international centuries. His illustrious career encompassed 560 matches, including 168 Tests, where he registered 41 centuries and amassed 13,378 runs at an average of 51.85.Ponting's ODI average stands at 42.03 from 13,704 runs. Although he played only 17 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), Ponting managed to score two fifties. His monumental contributions across formats, especially as captain, have cemented his status in cricketing history like a gold-plated statue in the Hall of Fame.
Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Sangakkara ranks fourth with 63 international hundreds. Sangakkara’s prolific career spanned 594 matches, where he notched 38 centuries in Test cricket from 134 matches, scoring 12,400 runs at an average of 57.40. His ODI record is equally impressive, with 25 centuries and 14,234 runs from 404 matches, maintaining an average of 41.98. In T20Is, Sangakkara scored eight half-centuries but did not hit a century. His versatility and technical prowess have solidified his status among cricketing legends.
Jacques Kallis, the cricketing colossus, stands tall at fifth on the international centuries leaderboard, like a titan among mere mortals. In his 519-match odyssey, he cranked out 45 Test tons with a bat that seemed to have its own gravitational pull, amassing 13,289 runs at a jaw-dropping 55.37 average. In ODIs, he smashed 17 centuries, amassing 11,579 runs with the same flair, all while maintaining an average of 44.36 across 328 games. No T20I centuries, but Kallis’ all-round prowess was like having a Swiss Army knife on the field—exceptional in every way imaginable!