Top three batters with most centuries in winning causes ft. Virat Kohli
Hitting a century is considered a major milestone in cricket. It’s not easy for batters to bat long and score 100 runs in a single innings, regardless of the conditions. Each format presents unique challenges. Red-ball cricket requires batters to bat with patience across varying conditions, while white-ball format demand quick scoring without compromising their wicket.
A century not only helps the player build his reputation as a batter but also helps his team in stitching big partnerships and reaching big totals. At times when the team faces sudden batting collapses, it’s important for one batter to stay at the crease and play a big knock.
While many batters have scored centuries, some legendary figures made it a habit of reaching the milestone with remarkable frequency. Having said that, the value of scoring a century diminishes if it doesn't come in a winning cause. The players also want their century should help the team achieve the bigger purpose, i.e., to win games.
In this article, we explore the top three batters who have scored the most international centuries in winning causes ft. Virat Kohli:
1. Virat Kohli : 58 tons
Virat Kohli no longer represents India in T20Is and Test cricket, but the impact he has had on the modern generation has been immense. During his prime, Kohli made it almost routine to score a century in every third innings. Most of his centuries came in winning causes, ensuring he stayed there till the end.
In his international cricket career so far, Virat Kohli has scored 30 hundreds in Tests, 51 hundreds in ODIs, and one century in T20 internationals, making it a total of 82 centuries in international cricket. Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing ODI century record (49) by scoring his 50th ODI century during the 2023 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. Out of 82 centuries, 58 tons have come in winning causes.
2. . Ricky Ponting : 55 tons
Australia’s most successful captain in cricket history, Ricky Ponting, finds himself in second spot on the list. Ponting wasn’t just counted among the greatest captains the game has ever seen; he was also one of the best batsmen of his generation.
Ponting was a pivotal figure in Australia’s invincible batting unit during the early 2000s. He was known for stepping up whenever his nation needed him the most. He holds several individual records to his name apart from leading Australia to three World Cup titles in 1999, 2003, and 2007 editions.
Ricky Ponting finished his international cricket career with 41 hundreds in Tests and 30 hundreds in ODIs, making it a total of 71 hundreds. Of those, 55 hundreds came in winning causes.
3. Sachin Tendulkar : 53 tons
Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for scoring the most centuries in international cricket, with an unparalleled tally of 100 centuries. Virat Kohli is second on the list with 82 tons. Many regard Tendulkar as the greatest batter the world has ever seen.
The legendary Indian batter was a massive crowd-puller, a one-man army, and the biggest hope for millions of Indian fans whenever the team was under pressure. During his prime, Sachin Tendulkar often carried the team on his shoulders.
Tendulkar owns a plethora of records—some of which are considered almost impossible to break. Out of his 100 international centuries, 53 centuries came in winning causes which is a massive cricket update.
Sachin Tendulkar called time on his international cricket career after scoring 34, 357 runs, including 51 centuries in Tests and 49 centuries in ODIs.
