Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar Centuries Comparison: A Record-Breaking Battle
Within cricket history many great players have emerged yet the two undeniable batting champions stand as Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar. Both legendary Indian cricketers have risen as batting masters through their record-breaking century counts and notable achievements on worldwide cricket fields.
This article examines the complete century records between Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar by evaluating their playing statistics across various formats of cricket and match circumstances alongside their impact on winning matches.

Overview of Their Careers
Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar earned his title as the “God of Cricket” because experts identify him as one of the greatest cricket players in history. The cricket player spent 24 years (1989–2013) in his professional career accumulating 100 international centuries which remains unmatched by any other player. During his career Sachin Tendulkar scored 51 Test club and 49 One Day International (ODI) hundreds. The Indian national cricket team included him as one of its members.
- Full Name: Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar
- International Debut: 1989
- Retirement: 2013
- Total International Matches: 664
- Total Runs: 34,357
- International Centuries: 100 (51 in Tests, 49 in ODIs)
- Batting Average: 53.78 (Tests), 44.83 (ODIs)
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has dominated cricket both with his attack-first mentality and reliable offensive presence. Kohli established himself as one of the premier modern scoring batters throughout his international career, which started in 2008.
Virat Kohli achieved his 78th century in international cricket during October 2023 by scoring 29 Test-match and 49 ODI centuries. The global cricket history book shows Kohli surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s speed mark for getting 25,000 runs through international matches.
- Full Name: Virat Kohli
- International Debut: 2008
- Current Status: Active
- Total International Matches: 500+
- Total Runs: 26,000+
- International Centuries: 80+ (as of 2024)
- Batting Average: 49+ (Tests), 57+ (ODIs)
- Records & Consistency – In the Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar battle, Sachin holds the most runs in international cricket, but Kohli boasts the fastest milestones across formats.
- Batting Records – Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar is a debate fueled by their staggering century counts, with Sachin scoring 100 international centuries and Kohli closing in fast.
- Final Verdict – The Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar debate remains subjective, with Sachin setting the benchmark and Kohli carrying forward his legacy with an aggressive modern-day approach.
Both players have left an everlasting impact, but how do their centuries compare? Let’s break it down.
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Test Centuries Comparison
Player | Test Centuries | Matches Played | Batting Average | 100s in Winning Causes |
Sachin Tendulkar | 51 | 200 | 53.78 | 20+ |
Virat Kohli | 29+ | 100+ | 49+ | 25+ |
Key Insights:
- Sachin Tendulkar is the first player to score 50+ Test centuries, a record he held for years.
- Virat Kohli’s century count is still growing, and he has a higher conversion rate than Sachin.
- Kohli has more centuries in winning causes, showing his impact in crucial matches.
ODI Centuries Comparison
Player | ODI Centuries | Matches Played | Batting Average | 100s in Winning Causes |
Sachin Tendulkar | 49 | 463 | 44.83 | 33+ |
Virat Kohli | 50+ | 280+ | 57+ | 40+ |
Key Insights:
- The ODI century record of Sachin Tendulkar took Kohli fewer matches to overcome, illustrating his consistent performance.
- Kohli’s batting average (57+) exceeds Sachin’s average statistics, which confirms his absolute control over the ODI format.
- The Chase Master moniker applies to Kohli because he leads all players with 26+ centuries scored in run-chase situations.
Centuries in World Cups
Player | World Cup Centuries | Matches Played | Best Performance | World Cup Titles |
Sachin Tendulkar | 6 | 45 | 45 673 runs (2003) | 🏆 2011 |
Virat Kohli | 5+ | 35+ | 765 runs (2023) | ❌ |
Key Insights:
- Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs in a single World Cup (673 in 2003).
- Virat Kohli’s best World Cup performance came in 2023, when he scored 765 runs in the tournament.
- Kohli is still chasing a World Cup title as a captain.
Century Conversion Rate & Match-Winning Impact
Player | 50s Converted to 100s | Match-Winning Centuries |
Sachin Tendulkar | 34% | 55% |
Virat Kohli | 42% | 75% |
Key Insights:
- Kohli has a higher century conversion rate than Sachin.
- Kohli’s match-winning centuries percentage (75%) is higher than Sachin’s (55%).
- Tendulkar’s longevity and early years in cricket meant he played in weaker Indian teams compared to Kohli’s era.
Centuries Across Different Conditions
Player | Home Centuries | Away Centuries | SENA Centuries (SA, Eng, NZ, Aus) |
Sachin Tendulkar | 51 | 49 | 35+ |
Virat Kohli | 40+ | 35+ | 25+ |
Key Insights:
- Tendulkar has spent more than a few centuries outside India, which proves his adaptability.
- Kohli, despite fewer years, has already scored 25+ centuries in SENA countries, showing his overseas strength.
T20I Centuries Comparison
Player | T20I Centuries | Matches Played | T20 WC Performances |
Sachin Tendulkar | 0 | 1 | Not Played |
Virat Kohli | 1 | 100+ | Highest scorer in T20 WCs |
Key Insights:
- Sachin played only one T20I match, so no centuries.
- Kohli has one T20I century but is known for consistency over power-hitting.
- Kohli is the highest run-scorer in T20 World Cups with multiple match-winning knocks.
Records & Milestones Comparison
Record | Sachin Tendulkar | Virat Kohli |
Fastest to 10,000 ODI Runs | 259 innings | 205 innings |
Most International Runs | 34,357 | 26,000+ |
Most International Centuries | 100 | 80+ |
Most Runs in a World Cup | 673 (2003) | 765 (2023) |
Most ODI Hundreds in Chases | 17 | 26+ |
Most Test Hundreds in Australia | 11 | 8 |
Why Sachin Tendulkar?
- Played in a more challenging era with fewer technological advancements.
- Adapted to all conditions and bowlers over 24 years.
- First to achieve 100 international centuries.
- Holds the most runs in cricket history.
Why Virat Kohli?
- It has a better century conversion rate.
- Superior ODI batting average (57+ vs 44.83).
- More match-winning centuries in crucial games.
- Best in chases with a record-breaking 26+ centuries.
Final Verdict
In the history of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli are two great batting legends. Sachin dominated international cricket for two decades before Kohli arrived with his new style of consistency and match-winning skills. Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar is a battle of eras—Sachin set the benchmark with elegance, while Kohli dominates with aggression and consistency. Indian cricket followers have been lucky to see the legendary performances of these sporting giants.
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FAQs
1. Did Virat Kohli surpass Sachin Tendulkar by achieving more international hundred runs?
Records show that Sachin Tendulkar holds 100 international centuries while Virat Kohli has surpassed 80 without any sign of reducing his pace.
2. Does Virat Kohli have plans to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most international century scores?
With his fitness routines and current batting form, Kohli is expected to reach 100 hundred runs soon however he requires keeping his current style at least until the next two years.
3. Whose One-Day Internationals career is superior?
According to numbers, Virat Kohli has a superior ODI career with an improved batting average (57+) and improved centuries in chasing conditions.
4. Who fared better in World Cups?
Sachin Tendulkar had a World Cup victory (2011) and was the highest scorer in 2003, whereas Kohli was the highest scorer in 2023 but not yet a winner.
5. Who is the greatest batsman of all time?
No easy answer—Sachin is the “God of Cricket,” and Kohli is the contemporary great. Both have redefined the benchmark for cricket.