One-Day International (ODI) cricket has seen many legends, but the art of scoring a century remains the ultimate benchmark of a batter’s dominance. In recent years, the leaderboard has been rewritten, with one name soaring to heights once thought unreachable.
The Top 10 Highest Century Gainers in ODI Cricket
As of early 2026, the list of most centuries is dominated by icons who have defined different eras of the game.
Most Centuries in ODI Cricket: All-Time Top 10 (Jan 2026)
| Rank | Player | Country | Centuries | Innings | Matches | Status |
| 1 | Virat Kohli | India | 54 | 299 | 311 | Active |
| 2 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 49 | 452 | 463 | Retired |
| 3 | Rohit Sharma | India | 33 | 274 | 282 | Active |
| 4 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 30 | 365 | 375 | Retired |
| 5 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 28 | 433 | 445 | Retired |
| 6 | Hashim Amla | South Africa | 27 | 178 | 181 | Retired |
| 7 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 25 | 218 | 228 | Retired |
| 8 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 25 | 294 | 301 | Retired |
| 9 | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 25 | 380 | 404 | Retired |
| 10 | Quinton de Kock | South Africa | 23 | 161 | 161 | Active |
Virat Kohli: The King of Centuries
While the list features the greatest names to ever pick up a bat, Virat Kohli exists in a league of his own. Having surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s “untouchable” record of 49 centuries during the 2023 World Cup, Kohli hasn’t slowed down. Now sitting at 54 ODI hundreds, he has separated himself from the pack by a massive margin.
What makes Kohli truly stand out is his efficiency. He reached his 50th century in nearly 170 fewer innings than Tendulkar. Known as the “Chase Master,” the majority of his hundreds have come in winning causes, often while hunting down massive totals under immense pressure. At 37 years old, his fitness and hunger for runs suggest that this record may not just be broken, but pushed to a level that might never be challenged again.
The Indian Dominance
It is worth noting that the top three spots are held by Indians. Sachin Tendulkar remains the pioneer who first showed the world that 50 hundreds were possible, while Rohit Sharma continues to hold the third spot, famously known for his ability to turn hundreds into “daddy hundreds” and double centuries.
The Legends of the Past
The rest of the top 10 is a “Who’s Who” of cricketing royalty. Ricky Ponting and Sanath Jayasuriya defined the aggressive style of the 90s and 2000s, while Hashim Amla remains the fastest to reach almost every milestone from 2,000 to 7,000 runs, showcasing incredible consistency before his retirement.
