Players with most centuries in single World Cup edition

A century in the Cricket World Cup holds tremendous significance, showcasing a player’s ability to excel on the grandest stage of the tournament. These centuries often play a vital role in their team’s success and can sway the outcome of matches. They serve as celebrated milestones and leave a lasting impact on a player’s career and reputation in the sport.

In the ongoing 2023 ODI World Cup, there has been an abundance of centuries, with many batsmen achieving this feat effortlessly. The South African team, in particular, has stood out with their dominant batting performances. Among the top 5 run-scorers in the tournament, four are South African batsmen. Quinton De Kock, in particular, has made scoring centuries a routine.

The wicketkeeper-batsman leads the run-scoring charts and recently notched up his fourth century in the World Cup, joining the elite group of players who have achieved multiple centuries in a single edition of this prestigious event.

While De Kock’s feat is remarkable, there are three other players in the history of the World Cup who have scored the most centuries in a single edition:

3. Kumar Sangakkara (4 centuries)

Kumara Sangakkara in 2015 (Source: Twitter)

Kumar Sangakkara’s display in the 2015 ODI Cricket World Cup was truly outstanding. The experienced Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman showcased his skill and unwavering consistency throughout the tournament, ultimately emerging as the top run-scorer. Sangakkara accumulated a total of 541 runs at a remarkable average of 108.20, a tally that included four centuries.

These centuries were achieved against Bangladesh, England, Australia, and Scotland, and it’s worth noting that the latter three were consecutive, highlighting his exceptional form. Sangakkara’s knack for stabilizing innings and delivering in high-pressure situations was evident. He played a pivotal role in guiding Sri Lanka to the World Cup final.

Despite Sri Lanka finishing as the runners-up, Sangakkara’s extraordinary performances earned him the Player of the Tournament accolade. This World Cup further solidified his legacy in ODI cricket, firmly establishing him as one of the format’s all-time greats.

2. Quinton de Kock (4 centuries)

Rohit Sharma in 2019 (Source: Twitter)

Quinton de Kock has joined an elite group of batters with more than three centuries in a single ODI World Cup edition. He is also the first batter from South Africa to reach the 500 runs milestone in the 2023 ODI World Cup. The South African wicketkeeper-batsman has displayed remarkable consistency and form in the ongoing tournament, securing centuries against Sri Lanka, Australia, Bangladesh, and New Zealand.

In these performances, he scored 100 off 84 balls, played a vital role in a record team total against Sri Lanka, contributed 109 runs in 106 balls versus Australia, and achieved a historic 174 runs in 140 balls against Bangladesh. His fourth century against New Zealand saw him amass 114 runs in 116 balls, solidifying his status as a standout performer.

1. Rohit Sharma (5 centuries)

Rohit Sharma (Source: Twitter)

The legendary India batter Rohit Sharma delivered an exceptional performance in the 2019 ODI Cricket World Cup. The Indian opener displayed remarkable consistency and skill during the tournament, emerging as the top run-scorer. He amassed an impressive total of 648 runs in nine matches, an achievement that included five centuries. This remarkable feat made Rohit Sharma the first player in World Cup history to score five centuries in a single edition.

The star India batter reached three figures against South Africa, Pakistan, England, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. This highlights his ability to excel under diverse playing conditions. Rohit Sharma’s elegant and adaptable batting style was evident in his partnerships, providing valuable contributions to India’s success. India concluded the round-robin stage as the tournament’s frontrunners, largely thanks to Rohit Sharma’s consistent brilliance.

Although India was eliminated in the semi-finals, Rohit Sharma’s extraordinary World Cup performance solidified his reputation as one of the world’s premier ODI batsmen. His exceptional run earned him numerous awards and recognition.