Sachin Tendulkar centuries in international cricket

The mention of Sachin Tendulkar centuries brings back hundreds of memories for every 90s kid. 

If you're from a country where Cricket is popular, you have most definitely heard about the legend that is Sachin Tendulkar. But if you're looking for more on the greatest Indian cricketer, you're in the right place because here we'll be talking about arguably the greatest player to play the game in depth. 

Hailed as the God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar has a special place in the history of this sport and in the hearts of one billion Indians. The Indian maestro is one of the most highly respected players in the world of cricket. Tendulkar's sheer numbers, the impact he had on the game and his longevity puts him right up there as one of the top three greatest cricketers of all time if not the greatest. 

This is a man that gave hope to a country amidst chaos when the team was basically a one-man show throughout the 90s and early 2000s. When India finally won the ODI World Cup in 2011 after 28 years, the current Indian superstar Virat Kohli said, “He has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years, it is time we carried him on our shoulders.” Perhaps nobody could sum up what Sachin Tendulkar meant more than Kohli. 

Sachin Tendulkar is considered as the most complete batter of all time. He had a classical style of play, he could be inventive, and he had a range of shots that not many can match even from the T20 generation. There was a time when Sachin Tendulkar centuries were a norm and anything other than a hundred was considered a failure. 

Also Read: Top 10 fastest century in ODI 

Sachin Tendulkar Centuries: Tests and ODIs

Who has the most international hundreds in cricket? The most Sachin Tendulkar centuries is 100 – 51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs, a world record. He is the only player in the game to make 100 centuries in all formats, with another Indian, Virat Kohli, next in line, with 75 centuries across Test, ODI and T20I formats.

Tendulkar also became the first-ever cricketer to score a double hundred in ODI cricket, when he smashed an unbeaten 200 against South Africa in 2010 on February 24.

Tendulkar does not have a T20I century, and he played only one 20-over game for the country.

Also Read: Most Double Centuries in Test Cricket | Most 200 in Tests

List of Sachin Tendulkar Test centuries 

List of Sachin Tendulkar ODI Centuries 

Most memorable Sachin Tendulkar centuries 

Most Sachin Tendulkar centuries have been pretty memorable for his fans but there are always those who are extra special and stand apart. We're going to list some of those top-notch hundreds by the master blaster in Tests and ODIs. 

Top Sachin Tendulkar centuries in Tests 

111* vs South Africa, Centurion 2010

If the older generation were lucky enough to witness 1998, the younger lot had 2010. While it wasn't the same free-flowing Tendulkar, he still delivered some of the finest batsmanship. And this knock will go down as one of the best Sachin Tendulkar Test centuries. 

This was the first Test of India's 2010-11 tour of South Africa, where Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel were at the peak of their powers. India were sent in to bat first on a lively Centurion pitch and were destroyed, getting bowled out for 136. The hosts then piled on a mammoth 620/4 and India were staring at an innings defeat. 

Sachin Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 111 in the second innings while MS Dhoni (90)  played his best knock outside the subcontinent as they added 172 runs for the seventh wicket. Both their knocks weren't enough to avoid a defeat but the battle between Steyn and Tendulkar was one for the ages. 

114 vs Australia, Perth 1992

This is one of the most highly rated Sachin Tendulkar Test centuries by cricket pundits and fans. The old WACA of Perth was famous for having the fastest, toughest pitches in the world and Asian batters in particular had nightmares playing here. And here was a kid two months shy of 19, taking on Australia's pace bowling attack of Merv Hughes, Craig McDermott and Mike Whitney. 

Australia hammered India by 300 runs to win the series by 4-0 but Tendulkar stole the show with his audacious batting display. He faced 161 deliveries in the first innings and scored 114 runs with 16 boundaries. Sachin was the only Indian batter to cross the 50-run mark in either innings. 

136 vs Pakistan, Chennai 1999

This is remembered as one of the most agonising Sachin Tendulkar centuries for an obvious reason that India suffered an ultimate heartbreak against arch-rivals Pakistan. This was the first Test of the series and India were chasing 271 in the fourth innings at the Chepauk against an incredible bowling attack of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq and Shahid Afridi.  

Chasing the target, India had lost half the side for 82 runs but the country still had hopes as Tendulkar was still there. He added 136 runs for the sixth wicket with Nayan Mongia to bring India back in the game. Tendulkar scored a magnificent 136 while battling through a severe back injury. India needed 17 runs to win when he was out caught but the tail could only add four runs. 

155 vs South Africa, Bloemfontein 2001

Bloemfontein witnessed the very best of Sachin Tendulkar when India toured the rainbow nation in late 2001. The first Test of the series, as was the case most often on overseas tours, did not go well. Having been sent in to bat first, India lost four wickets, including Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly, in the first session.

Sachin Tendulkar took on the South African bowlers in a great counterattack. He put on a 220-run stand for the fifth wicket with Virender Sehwag, who went on to score a hundred on his debut. Tendulkar struck 23 fours and a six in his knock of 155 in 184 deliveries as India recovered to 372 runs at the end of the day.

155* vs Australia, Chennai 1998 

The year 1998 was the absolute peak of Sachin Tendulkar and the first match of the series against Australia at Chennai saw yet another masterclass. Shane Warne came into this series on the back of a huge reputation and delivered in the first innings by dismissing India's middle order of Rahul Dravid, Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin. 

India had conceded a 71-run lead in the first innings. Navjot Sidhu, Dravid and Azharuddin scored fifties but it was Tendulkar who destroyed the Aussie bowlers. His 155 runs came in just 191 deliveries, where he smashed 14 fours and four sixes. India went on to win this Test by 179 runs. 

Top Sachin Tendulkar centuries in ODIs 

200* vs South Africa, Gwalior 2010

It was only fitting that Sachin Tendulkar was the first ever men's cricketer to score a double century in ODIs. He had come close to the milestone a few times earlier in his career, whether it was 186* against New Zealand in 1999 or 163* versus the same opponent in 2009 or 175 against Australia. He created history on 24 February 2010, when he tore apart the South African attack at Gwalior. 

The master blaster was aggressive from the get-go and reached his century off 90 balls. Tendulkar then pressed the accelerator and scored the next fifty off 28 balls. Tendulkar didn't receive many strikes in the final five overs but he eventually got to the historic landmark in the last over. He struck 25 fours and three sixes in his 147-ball innings. And oh, this was the day Tendulkar crashed the Cricinfo website due to the sheer number of traffic they had. 

175 vs Australia, Hyderabad 2009

The Indian legend produced countless lone-warrior performances in his career and this was one of those instances. With the seven-match series levelled at 2-2, the Aussies had given India a huge target of 350 at Hyderabad.

Tendulkar did not get much support apart from Virender Sehwag's 38 and Suresh Raina's 59. He kept smashing the Aussie bowlers and single-handedly took India to the brink of victory. He struck 19 fours and four sixes in his ridiculous knock of 141-ball 175. India needed just 18 off 17 when he was dismissed but Ravindra Jadeja and the tail failed him. 

143 & 134 vs Australia, Sharjah 1998

Not many Sachin Tendulkar centuries are as memorable and as impactful as his twin centuries against Australia in 1998. Famously known as the Sharjah ‘Desert Storm', this was a perfect illustration of Tendulkar's sublime gameplay and India's dependency on him. 

On 22 April 1998, Australia put on 284 runs before India were given a revised target of 276 in 46 overs. needed to score at least 238 to surpass New Zealand's net run rate and reach the final of the tri-series. Tendulkar smashed 143 off 131 to help India qualify. 

Two days later on his 25th birthday, Tendulkar blasted 134 in 131 deliveries as India chased down the target of 273 by six wickets to lift the trophy. 

117* vs Australia, Sydney 2008

This was one of the most satisfying Sachin Tendulkar ODI centuries for quite a few reasons. The Indian maestro loved playing against Australia, the best side in the world for the majority of career, and it's no surprise we have four centuries on this list. Australia were the reigning world champions, playing at their home. The CB Series had ‘best of 3' finals and the Aussies had said they would only need two games to lift the trophy. 

Chasing 240, Tendulkar smashed the likes of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Bracken. He scored an unbeaten 117 off 120 to take his side over the finishing line. He scored 91 in the second final as India clinched an ODI series on Australian soil. 

141 vs Pakistan, Rawalpindi 2004 

One of the biggest misconceptions in cricket is whenever Tendulkar scored a century, India lost. Statistically, this is not true and on the few occasions where India did lose, he had little to no support from other players. This knock was one of those instances, where Tendulkar fought single-handedly. 

India were chasing 330 in the second ODI at Rawalpindi against the likes of Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Shahid Afridi. In an innings where none of the other batters crossed the 36-run mark, Sachin hammered 141 runs in 135 balls. India lost the game by 12 runs but Tendulkar was adjudged the player of the match for his outstanding century. 

Sachin Tendulkar career summary

No player in the history of the game has played more international cricket than Sachin Tendulkar, in a career that lasted for 24 years. He represented India in 200 Tests, 463 ODIs and one T20I, in which he recorded 100 centuries. 

In Test cricket, Tendulkar amassed 15921 runs at an average of 53.78 with a record 51 centuries. The number of Sachin Tendulkar ODI centuries stands at 49. He made 18426 runs in the format at an average of 44.73 and a strike rate of 86.23. 

Having gone through a brief summary of Sachin Tendulkar's career, let's talk about his journey in international cricket, a detailed list of his centuries and some of his best performances.

Sachin Tendulkar journey in cricket 

Born on 24 April 1993 in a middle-class family in Mumbai, Sachin Tendulkar developed a love for cricket at a very young age. As he has said several times, Kapil Dev's Indian team lifting the 1983 World Cup played a big role in Tendulkar looking at the sport more seriously and passionately. 

Sachin Tendulkar was taken to Ramakant Achrekar, a renowned coach in Mumbai and he instantly saw greatness in that young kid. Achrekar and Sachin's brother were instrumental in his early years. Tendulkar's rise was as rapid as it gets. 

In 1988, Sachin Tendulkar made it to the Guinness Book of Records for a record 664-run partnership in the Harris Shield Tournament with Vinod Kambli. Aged 15, he made his first-class debut for Mumbai and scored a century on his Ranji Trophy debut. 

A 16-yr old teenager was picked to tour Pakistan, which had one of the feared bowling attacks. Tendulkar made his debut in November 1989 in Karachi. In his second Test at Faisalabad, he scored a fighting fifty in the first innings. 

Aged 17, Tendulkar scored his maiden international century against England at Manchester. While he continued to rise in stature in Test cricket, Tendulkar's ODI career took a big turn in 1994 when he opened the innings for the first time. He smashed 82 runs off 49 balls against New Zealand and never looked back, becoming one of the best ODI batters of all time.

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Battles with injuries

After 24 years of playing at the highest level, it would've been a surprise if Sachin Tendulkar didn't have to battle injuries. 2004-06 was the toughest phase of his career and he has talked about it in the past. Tendulkar feared his career was over when a tennis elbow injury kept him out of action for a long time. 

Sachin first experienced discomfort in his elbow on a tour of Australia and had to return home in 2004. He has admitted in his interviews that he could not even lift a plastic bat. Tendulkar had to undergo surgery to remove any damaged tissue or bone spurs. His rehabilitation was long and painful but overcome, he did.

Long wait for the World Cup 

Winning the World Cup had been a dream for Sachin Tendulkar as it is every cricketer who ever plays the game at the highest level. He was outstanding in the 1996 and 2003 World Cup tournaments but India fell short on both occasions, losing against Sri Lanka in the 1996 semi-final and to Australia in the 2003 final.

2007 was a disaster for India as they were knocked out in the group stage. And that could've been the end of Tendulkar's career but he hung in there. What followed was the second peak of his career as he amassed over 7200 runs at an average of 57.38 across two formats in the next World Cup cycle. This phase witnessed a total of 23 glorious Sachin Tendulkar centuries. 

Several Indian players also peaked during that phase as India went on to win the 2011 World Cup by beating Sri Lanka in the final. The tournament saw two Sachin Tendulkar centuries against South Africa and England, and he scored a crucial 85 in the semifinal versus Pakistan.