Top 10 active batsmen with most centuries in international cricket

Over the years, sports of any kind has become a staple for representing the country's strength and might in an organized way. It has given way to some significant sporting achievements in all of the sports and more so in cricket.

There can be calypsos written about Sunil Gavaskar or people could write invigorating and awe-inspiring lines while describing Sir Don Bradman's astonishing average of 99.94, but the consistency in reaching the triple-digit mark for any batsman will always take the cake.

The achievement while not as flamboyant as having an average of 99.94 or as celebrated as converting the big starts into big daddy centuries, is still up there with being the most indispensable achievement in the history of cricket.

The moment of getting to a hundred magnifies when a batsman hits the winning runs to win the match for his country. The milestone while not that easy has become bread and butter for some batsmen, and here is a list looking at these accomplished individuals-

NOTE: Only the batsmen who have been selected and played in a match for their respective countries in 2018 are considered. So, batsmen like Ian Bell (26 centuries) were not considered.

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#10 Shikhar Dhawan - India

Shikhar Dhawan celebrates after scoring a century against Sri Lanka

Shikhar Dhawan has had an amazing run ever since making his debut as an opener in ODIs. The white ball format is where he feels at home and wields his willow like a butcher to dictate the ball to all parts of the boundary.

He has not taken to red ball as naturally as he has to the white ball but has an amazing conversion rate of seven centuries and five fifties in the purest format. The ICC ODI tournaments are where he is at his absolute best becoming the fastest to 1000 runs in these tournaments.

RECORD: 184 MATCHES/ 207 INNINGS/ 8115 RUNS/ HIGHEST: 190 /AVG:41.19 /22 100s/ 37 50s

#9 Rohit Sharma - India

Rohit Sharma scored a sublime knock of 137* against England

One of the greatest turnarounds in the history of the sport can be attributed to none other than the hitman Rohit Sharma. A batsman bestowed upon with one of the sharpest hand-eye coordination techniques is a visual delight when in full flow.

Ever since his famous promotion to the top order, he has scored three gargantuan double centuries in ODIs with a highest of 264. While the impact has not been the same in whites, he has cemented his spot as an opener and also as one of the all-time greats.

RECORD: 297 MATCHES/ 302 INNINGS/ 10630 RUNS/ HIGHEST: 264 /AVG:41.85 /25 100s/ 60 50s

#8 Joe Root - England

England v India: Specsavers 5th Test - Day Four

Joe Root was hailed as a very special batsman from the very beginning because of his unquenchable thirst for runs. Since his debut in 2012, he has been successful in adapting himself to the workload and demands of all the 3 formats of the game.

There is no obvious glitch on display by him when he is batting but an excellent rate in converting starts to 50s is overshadowed by his mediocre conversion rate from 50s to 100s. This is what ranks him down in this list where he reaches 50s more often than anyone else.

RECORD: 218 MATCHES/ 271 INNINGS/ 11866 RUNS/ HIGHEST:254 /AVG:49.85 /27 100s/ 73 50s

#7 Kane Willamson - New Zealand

Kane Willamson after scoring a patient knock of 102 runs

New Zealand after the retirement of Brendon McCullum has found a reliable batsman and calm-headed captain in him. He also has the game that is suitable to all the conditions and formats, making him successful in scoring all around the world.

While he has already passed his idol Martin Crowe in maximum Test centuries scored for New Zealand, he is also well on his way in becoming an all-time legend of the game which is reinforced further by his consistency and strike rate on display by his across formats.

RECORD: 243 MATCHES/ 286 INNINGS/ 11810 RUNS/ HIGHEST: 242* /AVG:45.77 /29 100s/ 67 50s

#6 Steve Smith - Australia

Steve Smith after scoring a blistering knock of 215 runs at Lord's

It is a special moment and an honour for a batsman to be named in the same breath as Sir Don Bradman for his run-scoring exploits. This is even more surprising when that batsman's career was started as being a leg-spinner. He is none other than Steve Smith.

The unreal numbers that he conjures up in Test cricket every now and then are second to none. While his limited overs exploits are not as nearly a match to his staggering Test numbers, he has already registered his name in the pantheons of batting greats.

RECORD: 202 MATCHES/ 236 INNINGS/ 10061 RUNS/ HIGHEST: 264 /AVG:49.56 / 31 100s/ 45 50s

#5 David Warner - Australia

David Warner after scoring century for his local club

An explosive left-handed batsman had faced the likes of Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini in his very first match for his country Australia and scored a brilliant 89 off 43 balls laced with seven fours and six sixes. The aggressive southpaw was none other than David Warner.

The innings was a sign of things to come as Warner who was yet to make his first-class debut at the time showed the world a glimpse into his future. While the aggressiveness and devil may care attitude has resulted in a ban, it cannot dimish his contribution to the sport.

RECORD: 250 MATCHES/ 311 INNINGS/ 12498 RUNS/ HIGHEST: 253* /AVG:41.79 /35 100s/ 59 50s

#4 Ross Taylor - New Zealand

Ross Taylor 181* against England

The unflappable batsman or the crisis man from New Zealand Ross Taylor has donned many hats throughout out his 12-year career. He has held the otherwise fragile New Zeland middle order with aplomb for over a decade now.

Taylor recently surpassed his country-mate Nathan Astle as the most ODI centuries scored by a New Zealander by scoring his 17th ODI century against England. While 34 years old he still has enough left in the tank to become his country's greatest ever.

RECORD: 370 MATCHES/ 415 INNINGS/ 14963 RUNS/ HIGHEST:290 /AVG:43.24 / 36 100s/ 74 50s

#3 Chris Gayle - West Indies

Chris Gayle 165* against Australia at Adelaide

Chris Gayle the superstar of the T20s and also a freelancer now in various T20 leagues around the world has more than impressive numbers in international cricket. Before all the fiasco involving WICB and its players, Gayle was a solid opener for the West Indies.

The style of play and the force with which he hits the ball is reminiscent to the yesteryear greats of West Indies. His exploits as a batsman are a testament to the fact that he is the only opener to have two triple centuries, one double century and two centuries in Tests, ODIs and T20Is respectively.

RECORD: 443 MATCHES/ 513 INNINGS/ 18548 RUNS/ HIGHEST: 333 /AVG:38.56 /40 100s/ 99 50s

#2 Hashim Amla - South Africa

Hashim Amla scores a century against Sri Lanka in Champions Trophy 2017

Hashim Amla is a modern-day colossus of the sport where he has achieved staggering numbers over the course of 14 years. He was hailed as a test specialist at the nascent stages of his career but he really blossomed as an ODI opener for his country South Africa.

He was and still is the holder of fastest to multiples of 1000 ODI runs starting from 2000 to 7000 ODI runs. The appetite for scoring big comes from the fact that he plays the ball late and also has a water-tight technique which helps him in occupying the crease for a long time.

RECORD: 332 MATCHES/ 415 INNINGS/ 17995 RUNS/ HIGHEST: 311* /AVG:46.86 / 54 100s/ 83 50s

#1 Virat Kohli - India

Virat Kohli scored a majestic knock of 103 runs against England in the 3rd test

Virat Kohli has had a profound impact on the game of cricket, ever since winning the 2008 U-19 World Cup. He was thrown into the limelight at the tender age of 20 when he made his debut for his country in 2008 but he came into his own in the year 2012.

It was the knock of 133* off 86 balls against a formidable Sri Lankan side that saved India from the blushes of being knocked out of the tournament. He has never looked back ever since that knock and is well on his way in beating the improbable 100 hundreds record.

RECORD: 344 MATCHES/ 383 INNINGS/ 18028 RUNS/ HIGHEST:243 /AVG:55.47 /58 100s/ 85 50s