Full list of batters to score 3 or more centuries in a single ODI World Cup ft. Quinton de Kock
Quinton de Kock scored his third century of the 2023 World Cup against Bangladesh at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday (October 24). This puts him in an elite list of batters who have registered three or more centuries in a single edition of the 50-over tournament.
The South African wicketkeeper-batter smashed 174 off just 140 deliveries to take his 2023 World Cup runs tally to 407 and jump to the top of the scoring charts. Prior to this, de Kock also reached the three-figure mark against Sri Lanka (100) and Australia (109).
Without further ado, let's explore the complete list of batters to score three or more centuries in a single ODI World Cup.
#7 Quinton de Kock - 3* (2023)
The latest entrant on this illustrious list, Quinton de Kock has quietly gone about his work in the ongoing World Cup. After scoring his third century of the quadrennial tournament, he now has 20 ODI centuries in just 150 innings, which is a solid record.
Still only 30, Quinton de Kock could go on to etch his name in ODI cricket folklore if he continues scoring big runs during the second half of his career. However, Quinton de Kock has decided to take an early retirement from the format following the ongoing tournament to spend more time with his family and concentrate on T20Is and franchise cricket.
#6 David Warner - 3 (2019)
David Warner has been one of the best openers during the last decade. His most productive World Cup tournament came four years ago in England. The pocket dynamo smashed three centuries as Australia reached the semifinals.
He scored 107 against Pakistan, 166 against Bangladesh, and 122 against South Africa. It was a run-fest of a tournament, as multiple batters crossed the 500-run mark. Warner was the second-highest run-getter, with 647 runs in ten innings.
#5 Matthew Hayden - 3 (2007)
Another left-handed opener to score three centuries in a single ODI World Cup is Matthew Hayden, who achieved this feat in the 2007 edition. Australia went on to win the tournament that year, which took place in the West Indies, and Hayden had a big role to play in that.
The Aussie maverick scored back-to-back tons against South Africa (101) and the West Indies (158). He also registered a 103 against New Zealand just before the semi-finals. Overall, the former cricketer scored 659 runs in ten innings, which is the second highest in a single edition of the tournament.
#4 Sourav Ganguly - 3 (2003)
Although Sachin Tendulkar is undeniably the greatest batter, not only in ODI history but also in ODI World Cup history, Sourav Ganguly scored more tons than him in a single World Cup edition. The former Indian skipper registered three centuries in the 2003 white-ball tournament.
Ganguly hit an unbeaten 112 against Namibia before scoring two centuries against Kenya (107* and 111*). India managed to reach the final due to Ganguly's efforts, but they were beaten by Australia by 125 runs, courtesy of Ricky Ponting's 140*.
#3 Mark Waugh - 3 (1996)
Mark Waugh was the first batter to score three centuries in a single edition of the World Cup. He achieved this feat in 1996, as he helped Australia reach the final of the tournament. Waugh scored 484 runs in seven innings in that campaign.
The first of Waugh's three centuries in the 1996 edition came against Kenya, when he scored 130. He followed that up by hitting 126 against India in Mumbai just four days later. His third ton was in the quarter-final against New Zealand (110).
#2 Kumar Sangakkara - 4 (2015)
One of the greatest batters of his generation and arguably the best wicketkeeper-batter of all time, Kumar Sangakkara, struck four centuries in the 2015 World Cup. He barely put a foot wrong in that tournament, with just one score below 50 out of seven innings.
The left-handed batter scored four back-to-back tons against Bangladesh (105), England (117), Sri Lanka (104), and Scotland (124). Unfortunately, Sri Lanka lost to South Africa in the quarter-final, which meant Sangakkara couldn't improve on his 541 runs, 108.20 average, and four centuries in the tournament.
#1 Rohit Sharma - 5 (2019)
Rohit Sharma is a bonafide legend in white-ball cricket. Despite not having the best of starts to his career, he found his rhythm when he started opening in 2013, and the Mumbaikar hasn't looked back since. Sharma hit his peak in the 2019 World Cup, where he scored five centuries.
The right-handed batter scored 122 against South Africa and 140 against Pakistan, followed by three consecutive tons against England (102), Bangladesh (104), and Sri Lanka (103). The current Indian skipper ended up with 648 runs for the tournament and the record for most centuries in a single ODI World Cup - that is unlikely to be broken anytime soon.