The Quest for Speed:  Who Has Scored the Most Centuries in ODIs World Cup

By: Rohan Last updated: October 15, 2023

In the world of cricket, records and statistics stand as a testament to the extraordinary talent of players. One such remarkable feat that has enthralled fans over the years is the number of centuries scored in the ODI World Cup. Today, we delve into the annals of cricket history to celebrate the legends who have achieved the most centuries in this prestigious tournament.

Cricket, often called a gentleman’s game, has seen fierce battles on the field, emotional highs, and heart-wrenching lows. The ODI World Cup, held every four years, has been the stage for countless heroes to etch their names in cricketing history. At the heart of this legacy are those players who have consistently shown their mettle by scoring centuries when it mattered the most.

Also read: Who Has Scored the Fastest Century in ODIs World Cup

India’s Rohit Sharma holds the record for hitting the most centuries in ODI World Cup history. Rohit has hit 7 centuries in just 19 matches and has scored 1109 runs at a strike rate of 100.00. He has also hit 3 half-centuries.

Most Centuries in ICC ODI World Cup – Rohit Sharma

Scoring a hundred is one of the greatest achievements of a batsman. The intensity and reward after recording 100 runs for your team are immense for every player, and more so in the World Cup, the most prestigious cricket tournament.

It’s a wonderous feat to score a World Cup century despite increased pressure and going against high-level opposition, but some batsmen have managed to score not one, but multiple centuries in the World Cup. Today, we delve into the players with the most hundreds in the World Cup.

India’s Rohit Sharma and Sachin Tendulkar are on the top with 7 and 6 centuries to their name. Sharma only took 19 innings and three World Cups to reach the milestone, while Tendulkar’s centuries span 44 innings and Six World Cups.

Rohit Sharma: 7 Centuries in 20 Matches

India’s current skipper, Rohit Sharma, has hit the most centuries (7) in the World Cup. Rohit has played in 3 ODI World Cups (2015, 2019 and 2023) and has already climbed to the top of the most centuries chart. Rohit scored one hundred in 2015, a record five hundreds in the 2019 edition and 1 in the 2023 tournament. 

Sachin Tendulkar: 6 Centuries in 45 Matches

Sachin Tendulkar holds almost all the batting records in cricket. He is the joint-highest century-maker in World Cup history. Sachin has played in a record 6 World Cups (1992 to 2011) and won the title in 2011. Sachin also holds the record for scoring the most half-centuries (15) in World Cups. 

Kumar Sangakkara: 5 Centuries in 37 Matches

Former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara is third on the list of most centuries in the World Cup. He has played in 4 World Cups (2003 to 2015) and scored five centuries in 37 matches. Sangakkara is the only batter to score four back-to-back hundreds in World Cup history. His other hundred came during the 2011 World Cup against New Zealand.

Ricky Ponting: 5 Centuries in 46 Matches

Australia’s most successful captain, Ricky Ponting, is joint-third on the list of most centuries in World Cup history. He played from 1996 to 2011 and was part of 3 World Cup winning teams. Ponting is the second-highest run-getter in the World Cup with 1743 runs. His best knock of 140 in World Cups came against India in the 2003 World Cup final.

Also read: Who Has Scored Most Sixes In International Cricket