The best time to bat in the ODI format is in the top order (positions 1-3), as these batters usually get more balls to face than the others. Hence the opportunity to score runs also increases, and coupled with batting-friendly pitches in the format, these are batters who lead the run charts more often than not.
One way of making the top-order slot in ODIs their own is to score centuries, and if we look at most of the scorecards, it is dominated by the top 3 of a team. While the middle-order batters do score centuries, it is not often as an opening or the No. 3 batter.
The below table (most ODI centuries list) will give us clear clarity to this statement.
So here are the top 10 batters with the most tons in ODI cricket.
Most Centuries in ODI Cricket
| Player | Innings | Centuries | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli (IND) | 290 | 51 | 183 |
| Sachin Tendulkar (IND) | 452 | 49 | 200* |
| Rohit Sharma (IND) | 265 | 32 | 264 |
| Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 365 | 30 | 164 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | 433 | 28 | 189 |
| Hashim Amla (SA) | 178 | 27 | 159 |
| AB de Villiers (SA) | 218 | 25 | 176 |
| Chris Gayle (WI) | 294 | 25 | 215 |
| Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 380 | 25 | 169 |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL) | 303 | 22 | 161* |
Key Stats
440: The number of players to have scored at least a century in the ODI format of the game. Virat Kohli of India leads the way with the most tons in this format.
He sured the long-standing record of 49 set by another India batter, Sachin Tendulkar when he scored a ton against New Zealand in the semi-final match of the 2023 World Cup. Interestingly, the top 3 century scorers in ODI cricket are all Indians, with Rohit Sharma (31 centuries) in third position.
