Cricket has witnessed many exceptional performances, but some have stood out for the most centuries in a calendar year.
Leading the chart is Sachin Tendulkar, who, in 1998, set a record by scoring 12 centuries across all formats, showcasing an unparalleled mastery of the game. His incredible run included 9 ODI centuries, setting another record for most 100s in the ODI format in a single year.
Top 8 Players With the Most Centuries in a Calendar Year
Close behind him, Ricky Ponting in 2003 and Virat Kohli in 2017 and 2018, each scoring 11 centuries, demonstrating consistency and excellence across different conditions and against varied bowling attacks.
Other notable mentions include Aravinda De Silva in 1997, Rahul Dravid in 1999, Tillakaratne Dilshan in 2009, Hashim Amla in 2010, and Rohit Sharma in 2019, each scoring ten centuries in a calendar year.
Here’s a quick summary of batsmen who reached the pinnacle of scoring the most centuries in a calendar year across all formats:
Player Name | Number of 100s | Year |
Sachin Tendulkar (IND) | 12 | 1998 |
Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 11 | 2003 |
Virat Kohli (IND) | 11 | 2017, 2018 |
Aravinda De Silva (SL) | 10 | 1997 |
Rahul Dravid (IND) | 10 | 1999 |
Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL) | 10 | 2009 |
Hashim Amla (SA) | 10 | 2010 |
Rohit Sharma (IND) | 10 | 2019 |
This record sequence not only reflects the evolution of the game but also the increasing competitiveness and the raising standards of excellence in international cricket.
Tendulkar’s record could have been broken by Kohli, like he did with the number of ODI centuries in the World Cup last year. But, it might be a while before the Master Blaster can be replaced for the record.