Scoring a century in international cricket requires skill, concentration and consistency. Only a few batters have managed to score hundreds regularly across Test, ODI and T20I cricket.
Sachin Tendulkar leads the list of most centuries in men’s international cricket with 100 hundreds. Virat Kohli follows with 86, while Ricky Ponting ranks third with 71.
Other legendary batters on the list include Kumar Sangakkara, Jacques Kallis, Joe Root, Hashim Amla and Brian Lara.
This article covers the top 10 men’s international century makers, their format-wise records and major achievements.
Most Centuries in International Cricket: Top 10 Players
The following table ranks men’s international batters by their combined Test, ODI and T20I centuries.
| Rank | Player | Country | Test 100s | ODI 100s | T20I 100s | Total |
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 51 | 49 | 0 | 100 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | India | 30 | 55 | 1 | 86 |
| 3 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 41 | 30 | 0 | 71 |
| 4 | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 38 | 25 | 0 | 63 |
| 5 | Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 45 | 17 | 0 | 62 |
| 6 | Joe Root | England | 41 | 20 | 0 | 61 |
| 7 | Hashim Amla | South Africa | 28 | 27 | 0 | 55 |
| 8 | Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 34 | 19 | 1 | 54 |
| 9 | Brian Lara | West Indies | 34 | 19 | 0 | 53 |
| 10 | Rohit Sharma | India | 12 | 35 | 5 | 52 |
Why Does the Top 10 Stop at 50 International Centuries?
The 50-century mark gives this ranking a clear cut-off. According to the international centuries list, 133 men’s cricketers have scored at least 15 international centuries. However, the number becomes smaller as the milestone increases.
| International centuries | Number of players |
| 15 or more | 133 |
| 20 or more | 88 |
| 30 or more | 45 |
| 40 or more | 21 |
| 50 or more | 10 |
| 60 or more | 6 |
| 70 or more | 3 |
| 80 or more | 2 |
| 100 | 1 |
Only 10 players have reached 50 international centuries, while just one has scored 100. This explains why the top 10 list ends at 52 centuries, with Rohit Sharma occupying the final position.
1. Sachin Tendulkar: 100 International Centuries
Country: India
Career: 1989 to 2013
International centuries: 100
Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most centuries in men’s international cricket. He is the first and only men’s international batter to score 100 centuries across Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
His total includes 51 Test centuries and 49 ODI centuries. Although he played one T20 International, he did not score a T20I century.
Tendulkar’s achievement reflects remarkable consistency across 24 years of international cricket. He scored his first international century against England at Old Trafford on 14 August 1990, making 119 not out. His 100th came against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup ODI at Mirpur on 16 March 2012, when he scored 114 runs.
The wait between his 99th and 100th international centuries became one of the most closely followed stories in cricket. After scoring his 99th hundred against South Africa in the 2011 World Cup, Tendulkar went 33 innings without reaching the milestone. It took more than a year before he finally scored his 100th century in March 2012.
He also holds the record for the most runs in Test and ODI cricket. He finished his international career with 34,357 runs across 664 matches.
2. Virat Kohli: 86 International Centuries
Country: India
Career: 2008 to present (ODIs)
International centuries: 86
Virat Kohli is second on the list with 86 international centuries. His record includes 30 Test hundreds, 55 ODI hundreds and one T20I century.
Kohli is particularly dominant in ODI cricket. His 55 ODI centuries are the most by any batter in the format, taking him six ahead of Sachin Tendulkar’s 49.
In December 2022, Kohli moved past Ricky Ponting’s 71 international centuries to take second place on the all-time list. He achieved the milestone with a century against Bangladesh in the third ODI at Chattogram. Ponting now sits third in the rankings with 71 hundreds.
Kohli added two more ODI centuries in 2026. He scored 124 against New Zealand at Indore in January, followed by an unbeaten 139 against West Indies at Thiruvananthapuram in September. The latter was his 55th ODI century and took his international total to 86.
His only T20I century came against Afghanistan in the 2022 Asia Cup. He scored an unbeaten 122 from 61 balls in Dubai.
Kohli retired from T20I cricket after the 2024 T20 World Cup and announced his Test retirement in May 2025. He continues to represent India in ODI cricket, giving him an opportunity to add to his international century tally.
His Test record also includes seven double centuries, placing him joint fourth on the all-time list. He became the first batter to score double hundreds in four consecutive Test series and the first to score centuries in each of his first three Test innings as captain.
3. Ricky Ponting: 71 International Centuries
Country: Australia
Career: 1995 to 2012
International centuries: 71
Ricky Ponting is third with 71 international centuries. The former Australian captain scored 41 Test hundreds and 30 ODI hundreds.
Ponting was a key figure in Australia’s dominant period during the late 1990s and 2000s. He captained Australia to two consecutive men’s ODI World Cup titles in 2003 and 2007.
His aggressive batting and ability to perform under pressure made him one of the most successful batters of his generation. He finished his international career with 27,483 runs across 560 matches.
4. Kumar Sangakkara: 63 International Centuries
Country: Sri Lanka
Career: 2000 to 2015
International centuries: 63
Kumar Sangakkara occupies fourth place with 63 international hundreds. His tally consists of 38 Test centuries and 25 ODI centuries.
Sangakkara was known for his elegant batting, excellent technique and ability to build long innings. He played a major role in Sri Lanka’s success across formats and was part of the team that won the 2014 T20 World Cup.
He scored 28,016 international runs in 594 matches. His contribution as a batter and wicketkeeper makes him one of Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketers.
5. Jacques Kallis: 62 International Centuries
Country: South Africa
Career: 1995 to 2014
International centuries: 62
Jacques Kallis ranks fifth with 62 international centuries. He scored 45 hundreds in Tests and 17 in ODIs.
Kallis was one of cricket’s finest all-rounders. He combined dependable batting with effective right-arm fast-medium bowling and outstanding fielding.
His international career produced 25,534 runs and 577 wickets across formats. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball made him an essential part of South Africa’s teams for nearly two decades.
6. Joe Root: 61 International Centuries
Country: England
Career: 2012 to present
International centuries: 61
Joe Root is sixth with 61 international centuries. His record includes 41 Test hundreds and 20 ODI hundreds.
Root is one of England’s most successful modern batters. His strong technique, patience and ability to adapt to different conditions have helped him score consistently against leading international teams.
He has built most of his century tally in Test cricket, with 41 of his 61 hundreds coming in the longest format. His continued international career also gives him the chance to move further up the all-time list.
7. Hashim Amla: 55 International Centuries
Country: South Africa
Career: 2004 to 2019
International centuries: 55
Hashim Amla holds seventh place with 55 international centuries. He scored 28 Test hundreds and 27 ODI hundreds.
Amla was recognised for his calm approach, precise stroke play and consistency at the top of the batting order. He became the first South African to score a triple century in Test cricket, making 311 not out against England at The Oval in 2012.
His 311 not out remains the only Test triple century by a South African batter. His record of 55 international centuries remains one of the country’s finest batting achievements.
8. Mahela Jayawardene: 54 International Centuries
Country: Sri Lanka
Career: 1997 to 2015
International centuries: 54
Mahela Jayawardene ranks eighth with 54 international centuries. His tally includes 34 Test hundreds, 19 ODI hundreds and one T20I hundred.
He was an important member of Sri Lanka’s batting line-up for almost two decades. Jayawardene was known for his timing, placement and ability to perform in major matches.
One of his most memorable achievements came in the 2011 Cricket World Cup final, when he scored an unbeaten 103 against India. Although Sri Lanka lost the final, his innings remains one of the tournament’s memorable performances.
9. Brian Lara: 53 International Centuries
Country: West Indies
Career: 1990 to 2007
International centuries: 53
Brian Lara is ninth with 53 international centuries. He scored 34 Test hundreds and 19 ODI hundreds.
Lara was famous for his elegant stroke play and ability to produce extraordinary individual performances. He holds the record for the highest individual score in Test cricket, with 400 not out against England in 2004.
He also scored 375 against England in 1994, which was a Test record at the time. His 53 international centuries helped establish him as one of the greatest left-handed batters in cricket history.
10. Rohit Sharma: 52 International Centuries
Country: India
Career: 2007 to present (ODIs; retired from Tests and T20Is)
International centuries: 52
Rohit Sharma completes the top 10 with 52 international centuries. His record consists of 12 Test hundreds, 35 ODI hundreds and five T20I hundreds.
Rohit is the joint-leading century scorer in men’s T20I cricket, sharing the record of five hundreds with Australia’s Glenn Maxwell. He also holds the highest individual score in ODI cricket, making 264 against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2014.
His three ODI double centuries are also a world record. His ability to score big hundreds, particularly in limited-overs cricket, has made him one of India’s most successful opening batters.
Rohit retired from T20I cricket in 2024 and Test cricket in 2025. He continues to represent India in ODI cricket.
Players Closing in on the Top 10
The top 10 could change if active players add more international centuries. Steve Smith is closest to the list, with 49 hundreds, while Kane Williamson finished his international career with 48.
- Steve Smith – 49 centuries: Smith has scored 37 Test hundreds and 12 ODI hundreds. He needs one more international century to reach the 50-century mark and enter the top 10.
- Kane Williamson – 48 centuries: Williamson finished his international career with 33 Test hundreds and 15 ODI hundreds. His total places him two centuries short of the 50-century cut-off.
Smith’s position makes him the most immediate contender to join the top 10. Williamson’s 48 centuries remain a significant achievement, even though his international career has ended.
Which Player Has the Most Centuries in Each International Format?
The combined international record is led by Sachin Tendulkar, but the leading century makers differ when each format is considered separately.
| Format | Player | Country | Centuries |
| Test | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 51 |
| ODI | Virat Kohli | India | 55 |
| Men’s T20I | Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell | India and Australia | 5 each |
Tendulkar’s 51 Test centuries reflect his long career in the traditional format. Kohli leads ODI cricket with 55 hundreds, while Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell share the men’s T20I record with five centuries each.
Why Is Scoring 100 International Centuries So Difficult?
Source Image: Jagranjosh
Scoring 100 international centuries requires more than natural batting ability. It demands consistency over a long career and the ability to succeed in different playing conditions.
Several factors make this achievement difficult:
- Different formats: Batters must adapt to the pace and demands of Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
- Quality bowling: International players regularly face world-class fast bowlers and spinners.
- Physical fitness: Maintaining performance across years of international cricket requires excellent fitness.
- Mental strength: Batters must handle pressure, difficult conditions and periods without big scores.
- Career longevity: Reaching a very high century total usually requires many years at the international level.
Tendulkar’s record is especially remarkable because all 100 of his international centuries came in Tests and ODIs. Although he played one T20 International, he did not score a century in that format.
What About the Most Centuries in Women’s International Cricket?
The men’s list has a separate qualification standard from the women’s list. For women’s international cricket, five centuries is the qualifying mark. As of 25 October 2026, 34 women cricketers had reached that milestone.
The women’s record list is separate from this article’s men’s top 10 ranking and includes centuries scored in women’s Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
Conclusion
Sachin Tendulkar remains the leading century maker in men’s international cricket with 100 hundreds. Virat Kohli follows with 86, while Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara and Jacques Kallis complete the top five.
The list highlights different forms of batting excellence. Some players built their records through Test cricket, while others dominated ODIs or made an impact in T20Is. With Kohli, Joe Root and Steve Smith still active internationally, the rankings could change in the coming years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sachin Tendulkar holds the record with 100 international centuries in men’s cricket. He scored 51 Test hundreds and 49 ODI hundreds for India.
Virat Kohli has scored 86 international centuries as of 22 October 2026. His tally includes 30 Test hundreds, 55 ODI hundreds and one T20I hundred.
Virat Kohli holds the record for the most ODI centuries with 55 hundreds. He moved ahead of Sachin Tendulkar, who finished his ODI career with 49 centuries.
Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell share the men’s T20I record with five centuries each.
Yes. Sachin Tendulkar is the only men’s international cricketer to have scored 100 centuries. He achieved this milestone against Bangladesh in March 2012.