Most Centuries in International Cricket: Top Players Across All Formats
Scoring a century is one of the biggest achievements in cricket. It means a batter has scored at least 100 runs in one innings. But scoring hundreds in Test, ODI and T20I cricket takes different skills, and only a few players have reached the top of the international century list.
Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most international centuries, with 100 hundreds. Virat Kohli is next with 85, followed by Ricky Ponting with 71. This guide covers the players with the most international centuries, their records in each format, and how the leading batters compare.
Who Has Scored the Most Centuries in International Cricket History?
Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most centuries in men's international cricket. He scored 100 hundreds during his career for India, including 51 in Test cricket and 49 in ODIs. No other player has reached 100 international centuries.
Virat Kohli is second on the list with 85 hundreds. He has scored centuries in all three international formats and remains an active international player. Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara and Jacques Kallis are also among the top century-makers in cricket history.
Sachin Tendulkar Record of 100 International Centuries
Sachin Tendulkar scored 51 Test centuries and 49 ODI centuries. His 100 international hundreds came across a career that lasted from 1989 to 2013. He did not score a T20I century.
His record shows how important long-term consistency is in international cricket. Tendulkar scored hundreds against many teams and in different playing conditions, making him the first player to reach 100 international centuries.
Virat Kohli's 85 International Centuries
Virat Kohli has scored 85 international centuries, including 30 in Tests, 54 in ODIs and one in T20Is. His ODI century total has passed Tendulkar's record of 49.
Kohli's record covers all three international formats. He is still active in international cricket, so his total may change as he plays more matches.
Top 10 Players with the Most Centuries in International Cricket
The table below shows the leading men's international century-makers across Test, ODI and T20I cricket. It includes each player's country, centuries by format and total hundreds.
| Rank | Player | Country | Test | ODI | T20I | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 51 | 49 | 0 | 100 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | India | 30 | 54 | 1 | 85 |
| 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 | 34 | 5 | 51 |
Figures are based on the available record list through September 2026. Totals may change for active players.
International Century Records of the Top Five Players
Sachin Tendulkar leads the list with 100 centuries, while Virat Kohli has 85. Ricky Ponting is third with 71, followed by Kumar Sangakkara with 63 and Jacques Kallis with 62.
These players scored hundreds across different eras of international cricket. Their records include long Test innings, ODI centuries and, in Kohli's case, a T20I hundred.
Players Ranked Sixth to Tenth by Total Centuries
Joe Root is sixth with 61 international centuries. Hashim Amla follows with 55, while Mahela Jayawardene has 54 and Brian Lara has 53. Rohit Sharma completes the top 10 with 51 hundreds.
These players reached their totals through different formats and roles. Some built most of their centuries in Test cricket, while others scored more hundreds in ODIs.
Most Centuries in Test, ODI and T20I Cricket by Format
International cricket has three main formats: Test, ODI and T20I. Each format gives batters a different amount of time and a different challenge. Test cricket allows long innings, ODIs offer a limited number of overs, and T20Is require fast scoring.
The record for the most centuries is different in each format. Looking at the format-wise totals helps readers understand how the leading players built their international records.
Players with the Most Centuries in Test Cricket
Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most Test centuries, with 51 hundreds. Jacques Kallis is next with 45, followed by Ricky Ponting with 41 and Joe Root with 41.
Test centuries often come through long innings played over several hours or even days. Batters need to manage their energy, handle different bowling conditions and protect their wicket for long periods. Get more information for related news...
Players with the Most Centuries in ODI and T20I Cricket
Virat Kohli holds the record for the most ODI centuries, with 54 hundreds. Sachin Tendulkar is second with 49, while Rohit Sharma has 34 and Ricky Ponting has 30.
In T20I cricket, Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell share the record for the most centuries, with five each. T20I centuries are less common because batters have fewer balls to reach 100 runs.
Which Players Have Scored the Most Centuries for Their Countries?
India has produced several of the leading international century-makers, including Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, England and the West Indies have also produced players with high century totals.
Looking at each country's leading batters gives readers a better view of how international century records are spread across cricket teams.
India's Leading International Century-Makers
Sachin Tendulkar leads India's international century list with 100 hundreds. Virat Kohli follows with 85, while Rohit Sharma has 51.
These three players have built their records across different periods of Indian cricket. Tendulkar's record came mainly through Tests and ODIs, while Kohli and Rohit have also scored T20I centuries.
Top Century-Makers from Australia, England and Other Teams
Ricky Ponting leads Australia's list with 71 international centuries. Kumar Sangakkara is Sri Lanka's leading player on this list with 63, while Jacques Kallis leads South Africa with 62.
Joe Root is among England's leading century-makers with 61 hundreds. Brian Lara holds a major place in West Indies cricket history with 53 international centuries.
Active Players Who Could Add More International Centuries
Some players on the international century list are still active, which means their totals can change. Virat Kohli, Joe Root and Rohit Sharma are among the players with high career totals who have played international cricket in recent years.
Their future totals depend on international appearances, form, fitness and team selection. A player's current total should always be checked against the latest official records before publication.
Virat Kohli and Joe Root's International Century Records
Virat Kohli has 85 international centuries, while Joe Root has 61. Kohli has scored hundreds in all three formats, while Root's centuries have mainly come in Test and ODI cricket.
Both players have built long international careers. Their totals show how a batter can keep adding centuries across different teams, venues and playing conditions.
Other Active Players with High International Century Totals
Rohit Sharma has 51 international centuries, while other active players continue to add to their totals in different formats. Their positions can change as they play more matches.
For the most accurate ranking, readers should check the latest Test, ODI and T20I century totals separately before combining them into one list.
Frequently Asked Questions About International Cricket Centuries
These are common questions about international century records, how hundreds are counted and which players hold the leading records.
Who Has Scored 100 Centuries in International Cricket?
Sachin Tendulkar is the only men's international cricketer to have scored 100 centuries. He reached the milestone through 51 Test hundreds and 49 ODI hundreds.
How Are International Centuries Counted Across Formats?
International centuries are counted by adding a player's hundreds in official Test, ODI and T20I matches. Domestic cricket, franchise leagues and other non-international matches are not included in this total.
Who Has the Most ODI Centuries in Cricket?
Virat Kohli holds the record for the most men's ODI centuries, with 54 hundreds. Sachin Tendulkar is second with 49.
Who Has the Most Test Centuries in Cricket?
Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most Test centuries, with 51 hundreds.
Who Has the Most T20I Centuries in Cricket?
Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell share the men's T20I record with five centuries each.
Who Is Second on the List of Most International Centuries?
Virat Kohli is second on the men's international century list, with 85 hundreds across Test, ODI and T20I cricket.
**