5 Batsmen who have scored most hundreds as captains in ODI Cricket

Being a premier batsman and captaining a side poses two challenges for a cricketer. For he not only has to be at his best with the willow but also has to worry about team combinations, make crucial bowling changes on the field and be on his toes to lead the team to a win.

That is why leading a side can make or break a career as well. While for some cricketers leading the side can affect their individual performances, some cricketers relish the opportunities and raise their game a notch higher.

Ricky Ponting’s 140* in the 2003 World Cup final is remembered and will be remembered by Australians as a knock of a captain who led from the front when the country needed it the most. MS Dhoni’s 91* is etched in the minds of Indian cricket fans as the Indian skipper anchored the batting line up and allowed a cricket-mad nation to lift the World Cup trophy after 28 years. And of course, Kapil Dev’s 175 in the 1983 World Cup against Zimbabwe resurrected the Indian innings from a precarious 17/5 to a competitive 266, enabling them to beat their opposition by 31 runs.

In this article, let us look at 5 cricketers who have scored the most ODI hundreds while captaining their side in ODI cricket.

#5. Sanath Jayasuriya

Jayasuriya led Sri Lanka 117 times in ODI's and scored 10 hundreds.

At No.5 comes the greatest opener Sri Lanka has ever produced in ODI cricket, Sanath Jayasuriya. The left-handed legend played a colossal 445 matches for Sri Lanka and scored 13430 runs at an average of 32.36, including 68 fifties and 28 hundreds. He also took 323 wickets in his ODI career, proving his worth as a useful left-arm spinner.

Jayasuriya led the Sri Lankan team 117 times in his career and scored 4364 runs including 25 fifties and 10 hundreds. His average of 38.62 was higher than his career average of 32.36, indicating that the swashbuckling opening batsman performed well as the leader of his team.

Overall Record

Innings: 433 | Runs: 13430 | Average: 32.36 | Hundreds: 28 | Fifties: 68

Record as Captain

Innings:117 | Runs: 4364 | Average: 38.62 | Hundreds: 10 | Fifties: 25

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#4. Sourav Ganguly

Ganguly is one of the greatest captains produced by India in ODI cricket.

At No.4 comes in the Prince of Calcutta, Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly is the third-highest run-scorer for India with 11363 runs to his name. He also scored 22 hundreds and 72 fifties for India in ODI cricket. Ganguly also holds the record for the highest individual score by an Indian batsman in a World Cup. His highest ODI score of 183 came in the 1999 World Cup against Sri Lanka at Taunton.

Ganguly is one of the greatest captains produced by India in ODI cricket. Ganguly led India in 143 matches and scored 5104 runs at an average of 38.67. He also scored 11 hundreds and 30 fifties as captain of the Indian team.

Overall Record:

Innings: 300 | Runs: 11363 | Average: 41.02 | Hundreds: 22 | Fifties: 72

Record As Captain:

Innings: 143 | Runs: 5104 | Average: 38.67 | Hundreds: 11 | Fifties: 30

#3. AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers was an unorthodox genius of ODI cricket.

AB de Villiers was the unorthodox genius of ODI cricket. His ability to hit the ball to any part of the ground and his fearless approach to batting sent shivers down the spines of the best of bowlers around the world. De Villiers is the second-highest run-scorer for South Africa in ODI cricket after Jacques Kallis.

De Villiers played 218 innings for South Africa and scored 9577 runs at an incredible average of 53.50, including 53 fifties and 25 hundreds. His record as captain is even more impressive. In the 98 innings that he played as the skipper of the South African team, De Villiers scored 4796 runs at a gargantuan average of 63.95, including 27 fifties and 13 hundreds.

Overall Record:

Innings: 218 | Runs: 9577 | Average: 53.50 | Hundreds: 25 | Fifties: 53

Record As Captain:

Innings: 98 | Runs: 5104 | Average: 38.67 | Hundreds: 13 | Fifties: 27

#2. Virat Kohli

Kohli has scored 21 ODI hundreds as captain of the Indian team.

Virat Kohli’s record as a captain is absolutely incredible. In the 76 matches that he has played as the captain of the Indian team, Kohli has scored 4800 runs at a Bradmanesque average of 80.00, including 19 fifties and 21 hundreds. And, his overall record in ODI cricket already guarantees him a place in the pantheon of all-time greats of the ODI format of the game.

In the 230 innings that he has played in ODI cricket, Kohli has aggregated a whopping 11520 runs at an average of 60.31. He is the second-highest century-maker in ODI cricket (43 hundreds) and is just 7 centuries shy of overtaking the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Also, Kohli is the second-highest run-scorer for India in ODI cricket, after Tendulkar (18426 runs).

Overall Record:

Innings: 230 | Runs: 11520 | Average: 60.31 | Hundreds: 43 | Fifties: 54

Record as Captain:

Innings: 76 | Runs: 4800 | Average: 80.00 | Hundreds: 21 | Fifties: 19

#1. Ricky Ponting

Ponting led Australia to the 2003 and 2007 World Cup titles.

Ricky Ponting will qualify as one of the greatest captains in the history of the ODI format of the game. Under him, Australia became a near-invincible team, steamrolling opponents with remarkable consistency. Ponting led the Australian team to two World Cup titles in the 2003 and 2007 editions.

Ponting played 220 innings as captain of the Australian team and scored 8497 runs at an average of 42.91, including 51 fifties and 22 hundreds. His 140* in the 2003 World Cup final is considered as one of greatest innings played in World Cup history.

Ponting is the third-highest run-scorer in ODI cricket with 13704 runs to his name. He is also the third-highest century-maker in ODI with 30 hundreds to his name.

Overall Record:

Innings: 365 | Runs: 13,704 | Average: 42.04 | Hundreds: 30 | Fifties: 82

Record as Captain:

Innings: 220 | Runs: 8497 | Average: 42.91 | Hundreds: 22 | Fifties: 51