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Since introducing two new balls and fielding restrictions in the middle overs some former cricketers and experts believe that ODI cricket has become a batter-dominated format. But even before the change in ICC rules came there were many batters who used to decimate bowling lineups in their prime. In this article, we will look at which batter has the most ODI centuries in a year.
Most ODI centuries in a year
The ODI record for scoring the most centuries in a year is held by Sachin Tendulkar. The ‘God of Cricket’ scored nine centuries in the year 1998. The second-best on the list for most centuries in a calendar year is seven centuries. Sourav Ganguly (in 2000), David Warner (in 2016) and Rohit Sharma (in 2019) are three batters to score seven centuries in a calendar year. Here is a look at Tendulkar’s nine centuries from 1998.
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vs Australia: 100 runs
Sachin’s first century of 1998 came in the Pepsi Triangular Series on the 7th of April in Green Park, Kanpur. Batting second, India had to chase a target of 223 runs. Sourav Ganguly and Tendulkar opened the batting. Tendulkar batted aggressively while Ganguly played second fiddle to him. Tendulkar scored 100 runs in just 89 balls hitting five fours and seven sixes. He shared a 175-run opening stand with Ganguly which sealed the victory for India.
vs Australia: 143 runs
Once again the Master Blaster scored a century against Australia. His second century of the year came during the Coca-Cola Cup on the 22nd of April in Sharjah. Australia after winning the toss chose to bat first and scored 284 runs thanks to an unbeaten century from Michael Bevan and a knock of 81 runs from Mark Waugh opening the innings.
India needed to score 285 runs to win the match and 254 runs to get past New Zealand NRR to qualify for the final of the series. A sandstorm interrupted India’s chase causing a 25-minute delay. India’s target was reduced to 276 in 46 overs and 237 in 46 to qualify for finals. Tendulkar continued his aggressive style of play and scored 143 runs in 131 balls hitting nine fours and five sixes. His century went in vain as India went on to lose the match but his knock was enough to help India qualify for the finals.
vs Australia: 134 runs
In the final Sachin once again came to his best. Australia batting first set a target of 273 runs for India thanks to knocks of 70 runs from Steve Waugh and Darren Lehmann. Ganguly was dismissed for a low score but Tendulkar carried on batting sharing an 89-run stand with Nayan Mongia and a 120-run stand with skipper Mohammad Azharuddin. Sachin scored 134 runs in 131 balls hitting 12 fours and three sixes. His century was crucial in India’s win over Australia.
vs Kenya: 100* runs
It was yet another final where Sachin scored a century. Kenya won the toss and opted to bat first. It was first a great bowling performance from Venkatesh Prasad and Ajit Agarkar who picked seven wickets between them and successfully restricted Kenya to just 196 runs. Chasing 197, India never looked in any spot of bother thanks to a great 77-run opening stand between Ganguly and Tendulkar. Sachin went on to score an unbeaten ton and shared a match-winning second wicket stand with Ajay Jadeja. Ajay too scored a half-century. Sachin scored 100 runs in 103 balls hitting 13 fours. India won the match by nine wickets with 90 balls remaining and Tendulkar won the Player of the Match award for his ton.
vs Sri Lanka: 128 runs
Sri Lanka hosted New Zealand and India for the Singer-Akai Nidahas Trophy. India and Sri Lanka faced off in the finals of the tri-series and after winning the toss, India decided to bat first. Opening the innings, it was a repeat of what was happening during the year as Ganguly and Tendulkar once again gave a brilliant start to the ‘Men in Blue’. The duo shared a 252-run opening stand as both batters hit centuries. Tendulkar scored 128 runs in 131 balls hitting eight fours and two sixes while his opening partner, Ganguly on the other hand scored 109 runs in 136 balls hitting six fours and two sixes. He was stumped out by Sanath Jayasuriya and the wicketkeeper, Romesh Kaluwitharana.
India set a target of 308 runs for the hosts. India started on a great note with the ball in hand dismissing both Sri Lankan openers for low scores. Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana were both dismissed by Ajit Agarkar. Aravinda de Silva went on to play a great knock scoring 105 runs in just 94 balls hitting 10 fours. de Silva too was dismissed by Agarkar. The hosts came close to chasing down the total and lost the match by just six runs in the end. Tendulkar once again won the Player of the Match award for his ton.
vs Zimbabwe: 127* runs
India toured Zimbabwe in September of 1998 for a 3-match ODI series and during the first ODI of the series, Sachin smashed his sixth century of the year. Mohammad Azharuddin after winning the toss decided to field first. Zimbabwe was bowled out for 213 runs in their 50 overs thanks to Agarkar and Harbhajan Singh picking 3-fors.
Opening the innings, Sourav Ganguly was dismissed earlier in the innings. There was very little for Zimbabwe to celebrate after that wicket as Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid shared a 180-run stand second wicket stand. Dravid was dismissed by Gary Brent after scoring 64 runs in 98 balls hitting three fours. Tendulkar went on to play an unbeaten knock of 127 runs in 130 balls hitting 13 fours and one six. India won the match by eight wickets with 46 balls remaining. The knock also fetched Tendulkar the Player of the Match award.
vs Australia: 141 runs
Sachin Tendulkar scored his fourth century against Australia in the same year. During the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy, Australia and India faced off each other in the quarterfinals. Australia won the toss and elected to field first at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka. India lost two wickets early in the game with just eight runs on the board. Ganguly and Azharuddin were the two players who were dismissed.
Sachin shared a 140-run stand for the third wicket with Dravid. Dravid was then dismissed after missing out on a half-century scoring 48 runs in 80 balls hitting three fours. Tendulkar remained aggressive with his and he was joined by Ajay Jadeja who too played at a pace higher than run-a-ball. Tendulkar scored 141 runs in just 128 balls hitting 13 fours and three sixes. The centurion was run out by Michael Kasprowicz. Jadeja scored 71 runs in 65 balls hitting five fours and one six. India scored 307 runs in their first 50 overs.
Tendulkar was not done after his century as he returned in the second innings this time with the ball in hand. Australia got off to a good start with Mark Waugh scoring 71 while Ricky Ponting scored 41 but there were no knock equivalent to Sachin’s in the first innings. Sachin also picked up four wickets in the second innings dismissing Steve Waugh, Michael Bevan, Damien Martyn and Brad Young. India won the match by 44 runs and Sachin once again was awarded the Player of the Match award for his all-round performance with the bat and ball.
vs Zimbabwe: 118* runs
Sachin’s last ODI matches of the year came in the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy. India played Zimbabwe in their second match of the tri-series between India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Mohammad Azharuddin won the toss and decided to bowl first and he was well and truly supported by his bowlers. The Indian bowlers bowled out Zimbabwe for 196 runs with Anil Kumble, Nikhil Chopra and Sunil Joshi picking up two wickets each.
Chasing 197, Ganguly was dismissed after scoring 28 runs but Tendulkar carried on with his knock stringing together a 92-run stand for the third wicket Azharuddin. Tendulkar remained not out and scored 118 runs in 112 balls hitting 14 fours and two sixes. He was given the Player of the Match award for his unbeaten century.
vs Zimbabwe: 124* runs
India met with Zimbabwe once again in the tournament this time in the finals. As had been the trend in the year, Tendulkar scored his ninth century in the finals. India won the toss and opted to bowl first and once again restricted Zimbabwe to 196 runs. Javagal Srinath picked up three wickets while Anil Kumble picked up two.
Chasing 197, India did not lose a single wicket as Ganguly and Tendulkar chased down the total in 30 overs without losing any single wicket. Ganguly scored 63 runs in 90 balls while Tendulkar scored 124 runs in 92 balls hitting 12 four and six sixes. Tendulkar played a great knock going aggressively, especially against Henry Olonga. Olonga had dismissed Tendulkar in their previous encounter. India went on to win the match by 10 wickets with 120 balls remaining, Tendulkar once again was given the Player of the Match award for his ton and one wicket he took in the first innings.