In the contemporary cricketing era, which has brought about alterations at a fast pace and bowlers are becoming increasingly sharper, making a century has become a real hallmark of excellence. However, a select few batters continue to make centuries across formats, and they have stood up to the changing challenges. Leading this elite group is Virat Kohli from India, who has attained a modern-day record of 82 centuries in international cricket, which is remarkable not only as a hallmark of class but also as a record of utter consistency over the years of international cricket, forcing many to refer to Kohli as the best batter in the world. 

Chasing Kohli are some of the greatest batters of our generation—Joe Root, Rohit Sharma, Kane Williamson, and Steve Smith. Each of these players has a different style to their game; however, they all have a common quality—when they get to the international cricket big stage, they have an ability to rise to the occasion and make it count. Whether it be a defensive Test innings or a free-flowing ODI century, these players challenge our thoughts about batting excellence and then leave us to think again.

Modern-Day Greats and Their Century Race

Virat Kohli – 82 Hundreds

For modern batting, there's nowhere to start other than the King. Kohli's name deserves to be in a golden cap, as he has dominated with 82 international hundreds, and he is quickly closing in on Sachin Tendulkar's record of 100. Kohli's hundreds have been emphatic, whether they have been cover drives at full swing or his historic chases under the lights. Kohli's centuries have always been memorable events that have inspired and lifted millions. What is remarkable is Kohli's hunger. Every time he walks out onto the field, it feels like he challenges his first hundred every time he steps out to bat. 

Joe Root - 57*

Joe Root has snuck up on everyone as the engine to England's batting. With 57 hundreds so far, Root recently took the opportunity to show again why he is so important when he managed to build another classic innings over the series with India. Root would be the last person to pick fights with journalists—which says a lot because, whoever demands the headlines, Root gets the runs. No one plays with more absolute certainty whilst wearing a helmet than Joe Root. His ability to dismantle attacks in tough conditions, especially in tests, is outstanding. Joe Root's elegance is best shown in his batting; he gets lots of runs too.

Also read:Most 50+ scores in Test history: Sachin Tendulkar leads a legendary list

Rohit Sharma – 49 Hundreds

Rohit Sharma is not a batter—he is an experience. With 49 centuries in international cricket, the Indian captain has turned style into domination. Whether he is dismantling bowling attacks in ODIs or holding the innings in Tests, Rohit's effortless sixes and silky timing provide so much to appreciate as a spectator. Few players flow from one gear to the next like Rohit, and even fewer make batting look so simple.

Kane Williamson – 48 Hundreds

Kane Williamson is the eye of the storm: calm, steady, and in control. Williamson has scored 48 international hundreds and for years has provided a weighty anchor to New Zealand’s batting. He is the guy you would want batting for your life: he has a sound technique, is mentally strong, and is reliable. Behind the cool exterior is a fierce competitor that rises to the occasion when his team needs him the most.

Steve Smith – 48 Hundreds

If cricket has a mad genius, it is Steve Smith. Some would get concerned that theater-school coaches would scratch their heads in disbelief at Smith’s technique, but once again, considering his record, it amounts to little more than performance art. Smith has 48 hundreds in international cricket and is currently counting to add to the near-mythical status of his record in Tests (especially from a batting perspective during the Ashes). Smith does not just score runs: she eats up a bowler, one section at a time.

Indian Cricket's batting maestro, often termed the 'Run-Machine' across formats, Virat Kohli is synonymous with greatness. His records speak for themselves and need no justification. Having been a stalwart for India for over a decade and a half, the veteran batter from Delhi smashed several records and etched himself for eternity in the cricketing folklore. His game prowess fetched him immense success on and off the field, and courtesy of that, he became a household name and an inspiration for millions of fans across the globe. Recently retired from the T20 and Test formats, the legendary batter has accumulated 82 international centuries so far. This includes the record for hitting the most number of tons (51) in One Day Cricket (ODI), the format for which he will only step on the field until complete international retirement. 

Kohli's decorated career has not just been limited to elegant and flawless batting masterclasses. He has had his tryst with the cricket ball as well. A part-time, right-arm medium pacer, he has been employed to bowl on certain occasions and hasn't disappointed. His bowling has allowed the main bowlers to take some rest and load up for a while. His immaculate line and lengths have not allowed the opposition batters, looking to upscale the scoring rates, to break free. Their attacking instincts against, apparently, a 'bits and pieces' bowler like Virat come with definite risks and have helped him strike the woodwork, on course towards amassing nine international wickets, hitherto, in his career. Some essential breakthroughs have boosted the bowling unit, as Kohli's victims have been potent batters of the opposition line-ups.

See Also: Virat Kohli stands alone with 900+ ratings in all formats

Virat Kohli's International Bowling Statistics:

A look at the batting spearhead's all of the international wickets, a set of nine occasions, yet, in his career, when he has brought his all-rounder skills to the fore. He let the ball talk then, incisively, off his hands and made it a supplementary weapon as well, along with that bat between his gloves, perennially. 

Kevin Pieterson

Virat Kohli's first-ever international wicket was that of the English all-rounder Kevin Pietersen. He got him out stumped in a T20I match between England and India in 2011. Kohli, bowling for the first time at the highest level of the game, sent down an inswinger which the Indian wicket-keeper captain MS Dhoni easily collected, stumping the batter out off his leg side. 

1- Kevin Pieterson

The first bowl he bowled in international cricket was a wide bowl and he got Kevin Pieterson on that bowl. pic.twitter.com/uN9PPdHH1N

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

Alastair Cook

Kohli's second international victim was the English opening batter and Legend Alastair Cook, whom he scalped in an ODI match between the two teams in 2011. Bowling a leg-cutter of a delivery, the former foxed the latter to castle his stumps, in a dismissal that every bowler would have felt proud of. 

2- Alastair Cook pic.twitter.com/ZVETJZwDqn

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

Craig Kieswetter

Virat's third instance of striking with the ball came in an ODI match between India and England at Mohali, Punjab in 2011. Protecting the off-side by bringing the fielder finer and up, Kohli bowled a ball at an angle and quite wide of the batter's off stump. In an attempt to reach the ball, the then young English batter Craig Kieswetter inside edged, and the ball dragged on behind to chop his stumps off.  

3 - Craig kieswetter

Bowled a beautiful Yorker to kieswetter on first bowl of his over and got him out pic.twitter.com/RG4Jtw97cx

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

Brendon McCullum

In an ODI match against the Kiwis at the Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand, in 2014, Virat not only got an opportunity to bowl but also picked up the prized wicket of Brendon McCullum, the explosive batter. The latter danced down the pitch to slog the former over covers, but didn't get enough elevation in his shot and got caught by Rohit Sharma.  

4- Brendon McCullum

virat kohli came and got McCullum out on 5th Bowl of his over after getting hit for six on the first bowl. pic.twitter.com/9JazsgAZWN

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

Quinton De Kock

Playing against South Africa in a pink ODI match at The Wanderers, Johannesburg in 2013, Virat bagged his fifth international wicket. He bowled and caught the well-set Quinton De Kock on 135 runs, ending his long and impactful stay at the crease. 

5 - Quinton De Kock pic.twitter.com/v56iyM9cmt

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

Samit Patel

In a 2011 T20I match against England at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Kohli struck with the ball. He contributed to the wicket of Samit Patel, who holed one up in the air off his bowling, eventually getting caught by Manoj Tiwary at the short covers position. 

6- Samit Patel pic.twitter.com/IeeKd0D75e

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

Mohammad Hafeez

In the big-ticket and high-stakes encounter between India and Pakistan at the 2012 T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, Kohli bowled Hafeez. On a length delivery angling at the middle and leg stump, the Pakistan batter attempted to play it late, only to misjudge the speed of the ball and see his stumps get dismantled. 

7- Md Hafeez pic.twitter.com/8wtRpnh90q

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

Johnson Charles

In the semi-final of the 2016 T20 World Cup, against the big-hitting West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India were staring at defeat and an eventual exit from the tournament. Kohli was trusted to bowl and got the wicket of the half-centurion, Johnson Charles. On a short pitch of a delivery, the batter went aerial and was caught at long-off by Rohit Sharma. It broke their partnership; however, things didn't improve much as the home side went crashing out at that stage. 

8- Johnson Charles

Virat kohli came with his magic and got Charles on the first bowl of his over. pic.twitter.com/yytL4xH9YF

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

Scott Edwards

Virat Kohli's most recent and latest international wicket came at the 2023 ODI World Cup against the Netherlands in Bengaluru. In a ball-strangling down the leg side, the batter and Dutch skipper, Scott Edwards, feathered it off guard and got caught by the wicket-keeper, KL Rahul. The dismissal was a Diwali surprise for the fans, and Virat was equally surprised, yet elated, to witness his ninth international wicket of his glorious career, so far. 

9- Scott Edwards

Even he couldn't believe that, He got Edwards out in his second over! pic.twitter.com/ngcF1PLfX7

— Ayan (@ayan3955) July 16, 2025

On this day in 2007, Rohit Sharma first stepped onto the international stage—a talented, gifted batter with timing and flair that hinted at greatness. Eighteen years on, he is one of cricket's most decorated and respected figures, not only a run machine but also a smart tactician and successful captain. His evolution from a middle-order prospect to India’s full-time captain and record-shattering opener is one of modern cricket’s most inspiring journeys.

Rohit's statistical record is mind-boggling. He is the world record holder for the highest individual score in ODI history—a jaw-dropping 264 against Sri Lanka—and the only player in the world to have notched three double centuries in ODIs. In 499 games and 532 innings of international cricket, he has scored 19,700 runs at a rate of 42.18. His international runs include 49 centuries and 108 half-centuries, 12 scores of 150+, and 4 double hundreds. No one has scored more sixes than him in international cricket—an incredible 637—and his 1901 boundaries are a testament to his dominance as a stroke player.

As a captain, Rohit Sharma's resume is just as stellar. He has taken India to 104 wins in all formats and boasts the best win percentage among any international captain (72.5%), a record that is even more impressive with an 87.1% victory rate in ICC events. Under his captaincy, India clinched two ICC trophies and two Asia Cup titles. He is the only captain in history to win the Player of the Match award in three separate ICC tournaments. In total, he’s been part of four ICC trophy wins, four Asia Cup triumphs (two as skipper), and has been named in ICC Teams of the Year nine times.

Numbers That Define a Legend

Rohit Sharma's numbers outline a legacy few can rival: 22,575 balls, 230 catches, and match-changing partnerships—1 triple-century partnership, 15 double-century partnerships, 98 hundred-plus partnerships, and 269 fifty-plus partnerships. Though he never bowled more than a handful of overs, he bowled 1061 deliveries, took 12 wickets at a best of 2/27, and even bowled 7 maiden overs at 4.91 per over.

See Also: MLC 2025: Points Table, leading run scorers and wicket takers after WAS vs TEX Match 13

Beyond the numbers, Rohit's influence is defined by class and consistency. He is the lone player to have achieved a strike rate in excess of 50 in ODIs in 11 calendar years—a testament to enduring brilliance. Personally, he has won 44 Player of the Match and 9 Player of the Series awards. Awardee of the Arjuna Award, Khel Ratna, and ICC ODI Player of the Year, Rohit Sharma's story is not one of milestone after milestone—it's a story of perseverance, leadership, and redefining what greatness looks like in Indian cricket.