International cricket has been the stage for some of the most remarkable moments in the realm of sports. Among these, scoring a century – accumulating 100 runs in a single innings – is a highly celebrated achievement. Achieving this milestone consistently demands extraordinary skill, unwavering focus and endeavors. Throughout the years, cricket has been graced by legendary players who have repeatedly notched up centuries, leaving an indelible mark on the sport’s history. In this article, we will explore the roster of players who boast the most centuries in international cricket, paying tribute to their exceptional contributions to the game.
List of Players with Highest Centuries in International Cricket
Sachin Tendulkar stands alone as the sole cricketer to have achieved the remarkable feat of scoring 100 centuries in the history of international cricket. Now, let’s explore the names of the top 20 century-makers in international cricket.
Here is the list of players with highest centuries in international cricket:
Players | Number of Centuries | Duration |
Sachin Tendulkar | 100 | 1989-2013 |
Virat Kohli | 77 | 2008-2023 |
Ricky Ponting | 71 | 1995-2012 |
Kumar Sangakkara | 63 | 2000-2015 |
Jacques Kallis | 62 | 1995-2014 |
Hashim Amla | 55 | 2004-2019 |
Mahela Jayawardene | 54 | 1997-2015 |
Brian Lara | 53 | 1990-2007 |
Rahul Dravid | 48 | 1996-2012 |
AB de Villiers | 47 | 2004-2018 |
David Warner | 45 | 2009-2023 |
Joe Root | 44 | 2007-2023 |
Rohit Sharma | 44 | 2007-2023 |
Chris Gayle | 42 | 1999-2021 |
Steve Smith | 42 | 2010-2023 |
Sanath Jaysuriya | 42 | 1989-2011 |
Shivnarine Chanderpaul | 41 | 1994-2015 |
Younis Khan | 41 | 2000-2017 |
Matthew Hayden | 40 | 1989-2009 |
Ross Taylor | 40 | 2006-2022 |
Sachin Tendulkar- Highest Centuries in International Cricket
Sachin Tendulkar, often known as the greatest batsman in international cricket history, embarked on his remarkable cricket journey at the tender age of 16, making his debut in a test match against Pakistani in Karachi.
In the year 1990, he notched up his inaugural century in international cricket during a test match against England at Old Trafford, Manchester. This century marked the commencement of a career that, to this day, boasts the highest number of international centuries in cricket.
Even a decade after bidding farewell to competitive cricket, Sachin Tendulkar remains unrivalled ass the cricketer with the most centuries in both Test cricket (51) and One Day Internationals (49).
Virat Kohli’s Century Milestones in International Cricket
Virat Kohli, the accomplished Indian right-handed cricket batsman, has recently etched his name in history by amassing an impressive tally of 77 centuries in international cricket.
Among these, he has notched up 1 century in International Twenty20 matches, 29 in the challenging arena of Test Cricket and an impressive 47 in the One Day International format.
A significant milestone in Kohli’s career was achieved when he registered his first T20 century while representing India during a gripping Asia Cup 2022 encounter against Afghanistan.
Furthermore, the Kohli became only the fourth Indian cricketer, following the likes of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Suresh Raina, to achieve a century in all three formats of the game, showcasing his incredible versatility.
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting, the former Australian skipper, is a legend in international cricket. He scored 71 international centuries (41 in Tests and 30 in ODIs) and was known for his aggressive batting style. He was named “Cricketer of the Decade 2000” was named in the country’s best Ashes XI in a Cricket Australia poll in 2017 and in July 2018 he was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. He is the current assistant coach of the Australian national men’s cricket team, having been appointed to the role in February 2019.
Ponitng announced his retirement from Test cricket in November 2012, the day before playing in his final Test against South Africa; this was his 168th and last Test appearance, equalling the Australian record held by Steve Waugh. He retired with a Test batting average of 51.85, although he continued to play cricket around the world until 2013.