Virat Kohli's 51 ODI Centuries: The Record That Redefines Batting Greatness

Virat Kohli reached 51 ODI centuries with his unbeaten 100 against Pakistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy group match at Dubai on 23 February 2025. The milestone extended his own world record for most centuries in One Day International cricket — a record that had previously belonged to Sachin Tendulkar (49 ODI centuries), which Kohli had broken in November 2023. Among currently active batters, Rohit Sharma is second with approximately 31 ODI centuries — a gap of 20 that reflects Kohli's extraordinary conversion rate and longevity.

The Record in Numbers

Kohli made his ODI debut in 2008. His first ODI century came in 2009. From there he accelerated at a pace unprecedented in batting history — averaging around 3 centuries per year at his peak. By the time he hit his 49th, equalling Tendulkar's record in 2023, cricket fans worldwide recognised they were watching statistical territory no one had charted before. Each century since has been into unmapped space. 51 ODI hundreds means Kohli has scored 100 or more runs in an ODI match 51 separate times across his career.

Comparison with Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar's 100 international centuries (49 ODI + 51 Test) remain the all-time record across formats. Tendulkar played 664 international matches; Kohli's ODI centuries alone have come in fewer appearances. However, Tendulkar's record is comprehensive across both formats; Kohli's Test centuries (around 30) fall short of Tendulkar's Test tally. Where Kohli has definitively surpassed Tendulkar is specifically in ODI cricket — the 50-over format where Kohli's chase record, consistency, and conversion rate (turning 50s into 100s) are without historical parallel.

The 51st Century: Against Pakistan, Under Pressure

The setting for century number 51 added to its significance. India needed to chase 242 against Pakistan in a Champions Trophy group match — the highest-pressure bilateral fixture in all of international cricket. Kohli came in with India under early pressure after Shaheen Afridi's two wickets and steered the chase from difficulty to authority, finishing 100* as India reached 244/4 with 45 balls remaining. The ability to produce record-breaking performances in exactly the matches that demand them most is what separates Kohli's ODI record from a mere statistical accumulation.

Will the Record Ever Be Broken?

Breaking 51 ODI centuries would require a player to average 3 centuries per year over a 17-year career while playing for one of cricket's consistently competitive teams. It would require the specific combination of talent, fitness, longevity, and team selection that Kohli has maintained since 2009. Shubman Gill, Babar Azam, and other elite ODI batters are on trajectories that might reach 30–35 centuries, but 51 — let alone surpassing it — requires a career that has happened only once in the history of the game.