Most centuries in ODI World Cups: The all-time list

Rohit Sharma tops the list of the most centuries in ODI World Cups, with the Indian skipper smashing his seventh ton against Afghanistan in the 2023 Cricket World Cup this year.

Scoring a hundred is one of the most scintillating achievements for any batsman, with the intensity and reward after recording 100 runs even more so in a World Cup match. As the Cricket World Cup approaches in India this year, we look at the players who have scored the most centuries in ODI World Cups, counting down those who have reached the milestone on multiple occasions. 

Most centuries in ODI World Cups: Breaking down the top 10

The ICC Cricket World Cup is the most significant global event in the cricketing calendar, which features the best teams around the world locking horns with one another. While these clashes take place, fans witness some breath-taking cricket. Every now and then, a star is born, as some batsmen have managed to score not one, but multiple centuries in the World Cup. Today, we delve deeper into the players who have bagged the most centuries in ODI World Cups.

10. Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka (four centuries)

This charismatic top-order Sri Lankan batter created magic with his bat in numerous World Cup matches from 1999 to 2015. Blessed with excellent hand-eye coordination and a fine technique followed by a captaincy stint that included a World Cup final appearance in 2011, Jayawardene’s capability as a top-notch player was never in doubt. 

Jayawardene was a prolific and elegant batsman who used his wrists to good effect to place the ball perfectly in the gaps. In his long illustrious career, Jayawardene scored 1100 runs in 34 innings which included four massive centuries in World Cups. His highest century score at this level was 115* against New Zealand which propelled Sri Lanka to their second World Cup final appearance against Australia in 2007. 

9. Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka (four centuries)

Dilshan was a highly innovative cricketer who was known to show aggressive intent with the bat. With a vast array of shots in his book coupled with strong wrist work and natural timing, Dilshan relished taking on the bowling attack early on in the innings. The stroke that bears his signature more than the “Dilscoop” shot over his head, which confounded bowlers and experts alike and put the batsman on this list of the most centuries in ODI World Cups.

In addition, Dilshan also added a lot of value to his side by contributing as a part-time off-spinner and an occasional wicketkeeper. Across his 25 innings, Dilshan amassed 1112 runs at an impressive average of 52.95 which includes four centuries. His highest 100+ plus score of 161* came in his last World Cup appearance against Bangladesh in 2015 where he stitched an unbelievable 210-run stand for the second wicket which floored Bangladesh by a mammoth 92 runs. 

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8. Mark Waugh, Australia (four centuries)

Living under the shadows of his brother Steve Waugh for the most part, Mark was one of the world's most elegant and gifted stroke makers. Waugh possessed a sheer amount of brilliance in terms of his batting abilities and could execute the drive, cut and pull and was able to play the lofted shots effortlessly around the park. 

In 22 World Cup matches, the batsman scored 1004 runs at a stunning average of 52.84 while maintaining a healthy strike rate of 83.73. During his World Cup stints, Waugh smashed four centuries, including his best knock of 130 against Kenya in the 1996 World Cup in a winning cause.  

7. AB de Villiers, South Africa (four centuries)

Loved and adored by many around the world, AB de Villiers needs no introduction at all. Not only was he known for his extraordinary batting abilities, AB was also a humble and a down to earth person. Talking specifically about his batting strengths, his 360 form of batting would leave the bowlers scratching their heads. AB could hit any ball anywhere, against any bowler, shattering some long-standing ODI records in his 14-year-long career and making his way on the list of the most centuries in ODI World Cups.

De Villiers scored 1207 runs in three World Cup editions at a dominant average of 63.52. His strike rate was at a lethal high of 117 with four centuries to his name. He played the knock of his life in the 2015 World Cup edition against West Indies where he smashed the fastest ODI hundred in just 31 balls finishing with a swashbuckling score of 162* (66). 

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6. Sourav Ganguly, India (four centuries)

A resilient captain and an aggressive top-order batsman, Sourav Ganguly had all the ingredients needed to dismantle any opposition. Criticized by a few for his occasional downfalls, Sourav was always able to deliver some match-winning knocks time and again to silence his critics. The former Indian skipper was very strong through the off-side who combined grace with surgical precision in his strokeplay. 

While Ganguly’s career saw a lot of ups and downs, his sheer resilience has helped him stay on track for the majority of his playing years. With over 1000 World Cup runs, Ganguly averaged 55.88 and scored four centuries and three half-centuries in his eight-year-long World Cup career. He scored his best ton of 183 against Sri Lanka in the 1999 World Cup edition which powered India to a landslide victory of 157 runs.   

5. David Warner, Australia (four centuries)

David Warner has bagged some extraordinary batting feats for Australia across all three formats. Warner has established himself as one of the best all-format openers in the world. Known for his aggressive strokeplay, Warner simply loved scoring at a brisk rate during the early phases of the game. His ability to see off the new ball and later switch to counter-offensive mode sends shivers down the spine of any high-quality bowling attack. 

Although Warner’s career has been marred by the infamous Newlands ball-tampering scandal of 2018, the Aussie still enjoys the reputation of being a highly accomplished batsman and will possibly be included in Australia’s World Cup squad later this year. In only two World Cup editions, Warner has smashed 992 runs at an average of 62 with four centuries and three half-centuries to his name. He delivered a powerful knock of 178 against Afghanistan in the 2015 World Cup which propelled Australia to a massive score of 417. 

4. Ricky Ponting, Australia (five centuries)

Coming in at fifth in our list of the most centuries in ODI World Cups, is Ricky Ponting. As the most successful run-maker for Australia who sat just below the likes of Bradman and Rod Marsh, Ponting played all the shots with a full flourish of the bat. His cover drive and the pull were particularly productive for him and knew only to attack. His breathtaking, dead-eye fielding was a force in the game by itself. 

In the period between 1996-2011, Ponting scored 1743 runs at an impressive average of 45.86 while maintaining a strike rate of just under 80. In addition, he has also scored five centuries and six half-centuries which includes his best score of 140* that demolished India once and for all in the 2003 World Cup final in a heartbreaking fashion.  

3. Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka (five centuries)

Kumar Sangakkara is regarded as the best wicketkeeper-batsman ever produced by Sri Lankan Cricket. He had an elegant touch to his batting and was known to play some delightful strokes all around the park. As a batsman, he has matured steadily and progressed to a stage where he became an indispensable figure in the Sri Lankan squad across all three formats. Furthermore, Sangakkara had a very shrewd attitude as a player who could occasionally unleash some sharp banter from behind the stumps. 

In addition, Sangakkara was also a very capable leader who led Sri Lanka to some very impressive victories. In his 12-year-long World Cup career, Kumar piled up 1532 runs at a jaw-dropping average of 56.74 which included five centuries and seven half-centuries. He achieved his best individual World Cup score of 124 (95) before calling time on his international career during the 2015 World Cup campaign against Scotland. 

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2. Sachin Tendulkar, India (six centuries)

Sachin Tendulkar was the most complete and prolific run-maker of all time, and arguably the biggest cricket icon the game has ever known. The Little Master based his batting on simple principles on balance, feet movement, and precision in stroke-making. There were no apparent weaknesses in Tendulkar's game as he could score freely all around the wicket, off both feet, and could temper his game to suit every situation making the bowlers toil hard for several hours. 

With a staggering 100 centuries across Test and ODI cricket, it is of little surprise that the chase master would make it to this list of the most centuries in ODI World Cups. From 1992 to 2011, Sachin amassed 2278 runs at a remarkable average of 56.95 with a killer strike rate of 88. Besides, he has bagged six World Cup centuries which includes his best knock of 152 against Namibia in the 2003 World Cup league stage match. 

1. Rohit Sharma, India (seven centuries)

Topping our list of the most centuries in ODI World Cups is Rohit Sharma from India. The current limited overs skipper of India found the going tough during his initial period but it didn’t take him long to explode. By late 2013, Sharma brought his A-game to the fore against Australia at home. From that point onwards, Rohit has gone on to reach new heights in his international career. 

Rohit has played only two World Cup editions from 2015 to 2019 and scored 978 runs at an impressive strike rate of 95.97. In addition, the 36-year-old has smashed six centuries and three half-centuries, one of which includes his best knock of 140 against the arch-rivals Pakistan in the 2019 World Cup. The 2019 edition emerged as his breakthrough year as five out of six of his World Cup centuries were scored in this edition. 

So far in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Sharma has scored one century, in India's second match against Afghanistan. The score took Sharma clear of Sachin Tendulkar, giving him the all-time record for most centuries in ODI World Cups at seven total.

At the other end of the list, will we see any new entrants to the top 10? Can Shubman Gill continue his stellar form from earlier in the year, or will New Zealand’s Devon Conway continue to make hay on spin-friendly pitches? Tune into the World Cup to find out.